Nigel Huddleston, MP for Mid Worcestershire, joined MPs from across the UK this week in supporting a national recruitment campaign from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), to address the 110,000 vacancies in adult social care across England.[1]
Running across February and March, the campaign aims to fill the sector’s recruitment gap and support local recruitment activity by increasing interest in adult social care as a career choice and driving awareness of the variety of roles available. The national campaign will comprise social media, digital and local radio advertising, events and media relations across England.
In Worcestershire there is currently a 10% vacancy rate in adult social care, meaning there is an immediate need for a campaign to reach and inspire people to consider a career in adult social care.
As part of the campaign, care workers were invited to the House of Commons to be given the opportunity to share their experiences and insight with MPs from across the UK. Mr Huddleston attended to learn about the campaign from those it will directly affect, and to find out more about the varied ways it is possible to make a difference in adult social care.
Mr Huddleston said, “I have met some of the care workers involved in this campaign and heard first-hand what a rewarding, varied and worthwhile career adult social care can be. I fully support this campaign and am looking forward to seeing its impact on the number of vacancies in Worcestershire”
“By helping local employers recruit people with the right personal values for care work, our communities will be better supported by highly motivated and skilled workers. If you think a career in adult social care could be for you, or someone you know, visit the campaign website www.everydayisdifferent.com for more information on what it means to work in adult social care.”
Sources:
- Figures on adult social care sector from Skills for Care. Skills for Care, ‘The state of the adult social care sector and workforce report in England, 2018’ (Leeds, 2018). Available at www.skillsforcare.org.uk/stateof
Notes to editors
- The recruitment campaign is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care.
- The pilot campaign ran advertising across Gloucestershire and Tyne and Wear in November 2018 to raise awareness of the sector and increase people’s consideration of it as a job route. Channels included: Paid search, social media, digital advertising, local radio and PR. Evaluation was conducted in early December.
- Like the pilot campaigns, the national campaign will run across England using paid-for advertising (including outdoor posters in selected areas of the country), paid search, social media, digital advertising, local radio and PR.
- The campaign website will be at www.everydayisdifferent.com and this website will be updated for the national campaign. The campaign’s Facebook page is www.facebook.com/everydayisdifferent
