Business 16 East Monthly East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, April 18, 2017 www.eadt.co.uk Sector skills report: Health and social care Opportunities in the health and In partnership with Suffolk County Council, Business East Monthly is running a series of reports aimed at informing young people about the career opportunities that exist in the region and the skills required to make the most of these openings. This month’s report features an overview of the health and social care sector. Health and social care The Employers Q&A: JOANNA MCCALL, REGISTERED MANAGER, HOME INSTEAD sector overview What specific skills are you What is the current state of looking for? the health and social care We recruit our caregivers for By Louise Whitley at sector in East Anglia? their caring natures rather than The current state of health and care experience - it is important Suffolk Brokerage social care I would say is to us that they are caring and challenging, especially over compassionate people. Our this last winter. The demand caregivers are not only the face of The health and social care sector for care services has the company, they are the people is the largest sector by significantly increased over that make a difference in our employment in the region and the the last few years and with a clients’ lives so choosing the right fastest growing. It is likely we society that is living longer, people is very important to us. will see a 33% increase in this demand is only set to Caregivers need to, first and demand for services between now grow. The Government foremost, really want to support and 2030. We are also seeing new announced during the Budget individuals to live independent ways of working to join up the its plan for a green paper on lives. They have to be willing to NHS and social care, meaning social care funding. On the learn how to give quality care, that the number and diversity of other side of this providers they need to be able to roles available in this field is have been dealing with the communicate well and especially expanding. challenges of recruiting have the skills to listen. They Roles ranging from quality staff. They have also need to be friendly, personable occupational therapist and had to work with low levels of and have a dollop of common activities coordinator to care funding from the local sense. manager and social worker all authority. The UK Health Care people living at offer career opportunities in the available. Likewise, when people Association (UKHCA) home. We specialise in the care How do you recruit this sector. think of social care they firstly recommend an hourly rate of and support of those people talent? living with dementia. This sector can be hugely think of supporting the elderly. £16.70, but the local authority in We have recruited through our rewarding for those that work in Although this is a key client group, Ipswich pay well below this own website, job centres, the it. Supporting people to maintain those working in social care also rate. Where are the opportunities EADT, online recruitment their independence and live the support many other groups, such as in your sector? websites and regularly hold open life they choose to live, gives adults with learning disabilities, What work does Home There are definitely events for recruitment. We many the job satisfaction which those with mental health problems Instead do? opportunities to progress in recruit caregivers from all walks had not been fulfilled working in and people at end of life. Home Instead Senior Care is this sector and having the of life, those over the age of 18 other sectors. For those Through our Care Careers part of a global organisation Health and Social Care diploma through to our oldest caregiver considering a career in social Suffolk service we work with the devoted to providing quality structure allows individuals to who is in her 70’s. We take the care it’s important to note that sector to promote social care as a care and is locally owned by study alongside their time to match our caregivers to many skills are transferable and career of choice and bust some of Chris and Susanna Lye. development. My own career our clients, as our clients are all what employers are really looking the myths that are out there. Nationally, Home Instead over the last nine years and different with different interests for are the values people have I Visit www.carecareerssuffolk. Senior Care has 180 locally that of many of my colleagues we need a very diverse workforce. rather than past experience. co.uk or email info@ owned and operated offices who has developed from starting We very much look to progress The perception of this sector carecareerssuffolk. together deliver over 5 million in this sector as a carer - 70% people that have joined us as amongst the general public is co.uk hours of care to over 9,000 of our office team were caregivers through to more senior very narrow - i.e. people tend to clients and employ over 8,000 caregivers before they moved roles via our succession planning think only of care assistant people. Locally we have over into office roles, I think this is initiative. The experience they roles and not the many other 100 employees and over 150 one of the benefits of this sector gain out with clients is invaluable opportunities that are clients in the Ipswich, that most managers will have and it helps us identify those that Woodbridge and Felixstowe had hands-on experience with have the right talent for the area. clients. What we need to do as a future. We feel it is our duty to Day to day we provide sector is ensure that as they find the leaders of the future and care, companionship develop they are supported to to nurture their progress from and support for older become great leaders. the moment they start with us. East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, April 18, 2017 BusinessEast Monthly 17 www.eadt.co.uk social care sector Q&A: RUTH DAYNES, LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR, LEADING LIVES What is the current state of the independent through age, ill health desire to work in social care and experienced workforce to health and social care sector in or are living with dementia. We who want to make a difference. We provide peer support for people can also support young people have a comprehensive training and new to the social care East Anglia? making the transition to adult induction and this will quickly profession so it is important We have an ageing population and services. We support 1200 families help people to gain the experience to have a mix. therefore an increased demand for across Suffolk and neighbouring they need. We also try and promote We believe the most social care. Many people have counties to access short breaks or from within, so people can important thing people complex health needs including respite for their adult loved ones. need to be a good support multiple disabilities. They have progress to other opportunities within the company. We offer both worker is good values and the right to be supported in the way to understand everyone they prefer, which means the sector Where are the opportunities in specialist training and all staff your sector? complete the Care Certificate. needs to be treated with needs to accommodate this. respect. Currently, we are looking to We work closely with recruit support workers, a team What does Leading Lives do? How do you recruit this talent? Care Careers Suffolk to leader and some business support. Leading Lives offers high quality It is important that we have a mix take apprentices across the This is around the expansion of our social care support in the home of new starters and more company and really value domiciliary support service, and in the community. We support experienced workers so we can the difference our Independence Plus, which is a people who have learning match more closely with apprentices have made. disabilities, complex physical growing part of our company. customers. For example, a younger needs, autism, ADHD or an person may prefer to be supported acquired brain injury. We also What specific skills are you by someone closer to their own age provide social care for people who looking for? who is interested in similar things need support to remain We look for people with a genuine to them. We also use our more Q&A: RUTH FRENCH , OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, STOWLANGTOFT HEALTHCARE. Q&A: LYNDA BRADFORD, HEAD OF HEALTH IMPROVEMENT (PREVENTION AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES), SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL What is the current state of What work does Stowlangtoft the health and social care Healthcare do? What is the current state of sector in East Anglia? We are a family run business Our region has an increasingly operating three, and soon to be the sector in East Anglia? high proportion of people four nursing homes in Norfolk Suffolk is a relatively healthy needing residential or nursing and Suffolk. We employ nearly place to live and work. We care and there is a shortage of 160 staff and currently look after generally rank at or above specialist beds, particularly for up to 130 residents at any one the England average for a range those living with advanced time across our homes, all of of measures, but this only dementia or with palliative care which are rated ‘Good’ by our reveals part of the picture. Our needs. I think barriers to market regulator the Care Quality county has pockets of entry are much higher now than Commission.