Employers across
the social care sector can access a huge recruitment pool as
record numbers of candidates are looking for a career in social
care this month, new figures reveal.
Since the beginning of February, more than 28,000 people have
registered interest in a job in social care via a
Government-funded website, run by United Kingdom Homecare
Association (UKHCA), www.carejobfinder.org.
The site matches job hunters with employers who have potential
vacancies throughout the sector.
There are now as many as 1,000 candidates registering on the site
per day and 99 per cent of companies using the website to recruit
are typically matched with at least one new potential recruit.
The new figures come half-way through the Department of Health’s
nationwide social care recruitment campaign, incorporating
television and print advertising and face to face regional events.
The campaign is supported by research revealing that more than a
third of people would consider switching into a career in social
care, especially in younger age groups. Employers or employees
interested in job roles in social care can register at www.carejobfinder.org
Care Services Minister, Phil Hope, said:
“More and more people are considering a career in social care,
which is brilliant news. Not only does it give people the chance
to make a real difference to someone else’s life, it also offers
great opportunities for career progression. We know there are
thousands of vacancies in social care and any employers looking
for enthusiastic candidates will find a wealth of them by using
CareJobFinder as part of their recruitment plans.”
Colin Angel, Head of Policy and Communication at UKCHA commented:
“The website is a great way of matching up the growing interest
in the sector with the ongoing need for high numbers of recruits.
With such a pool of talent to choose from, I’d encourage more
employers to sign up. It’s not only useful for recruiting the
ideal candidate, but can also help cut down what can sometimes be
a lengthy recruitment processes.”
Notes to Editors
For media enquiries, please contact the Department
of Health newsdesk on 0207 210 5221
The website, www.carejobfinder.org, is
funded by the Department of Health and run by the United Kingdom
Homecare Association (UKHCA).
To encourage social care employers to recruit young people the
Department of Health and Department for Work and Pensions have
also launched the Care First Careers scheme, which will offer
50,000 jobs in social care for young people aged 18 to 24 who have
been unemployed for 6 months or more. Employers are offered a
recruitment subsidy of £1,000 plus free pre-employment training
for every young person they recruit through the scheme.
CareJobFinder.org also helps employers identify those recruits who
may qualify for the £1,000 subsidy by asking recruits two
(entirely optional) questions to assess their eligibility.
To find out more about the Care First Careers scheme and how to
get the subsidy visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/carefirstcareers
Those interested in finding out more about a career in Social
Care can find more information in a variety of ways:
o Through the website www.socialcarecareers.co.uk
o Through a series of regional events. For dates and
locations see www.socialcarecareers.co.uk
The Green Paper Shaping the Future of Care Together can be
found at www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk