Providers team up to form Warrington Social Care Employment Partnership in order to tackle town's carer shortage

At present, there are an estimated 5,500 roles in adult social care in Warrington but 4.4 per cent, or around 242, are currently vacant.

The crisis in recruiting and retaining residents to work in social care is reflected across the north west and nationally, with vacancy rates standing at 5.3 per cent and 7.3 per cent respectively.

Now social care service providers, Warrington Borough Council, Warrington and Co, Job Centre plus and national sector training organisation Skills for Care have formed a partnership to combat the town's shortage of workers.

Michael Sheppard, chairman of the Warrington Social Care Employment Partnership and chief executive of provider Warrington Community Living, said: “There is a national issue with recruiting people to work in social care.

“Some of it is linked to pressure on public funding leading to lower wages, but it is also to do with whether people understand the range of roles and working patterns that are on offer and most importantly just how much of a difference your job can make in someone’s life.

“When national media so enjoys telling the bad news stories and focus largely on care at home and residentially for older people, it is hard for potential employees to get a balanced and properly informed picture of just how interesting, meaningful and rewarding the work can be."

The partnership's initiatives so far include two care academies for unemployed residents and a network of ambassadors already working in social care roles.

The Warrington ICare Ambassador Partnership has helped to support the care academies, while members have also visited schools and colleagues to inspire pupils to go into the profession.

Lindsey Dawson from Skills for Care said: "It's been a joy working with all the employers in the Warrington ICare Ambassador partnership who have developed a team of brilliant ambassadors that talk to local people who have the right skills and values to work in adult social care.

"The partnership has already been very successful in working with local school and colleges, which has led to offers of work experience for students who have heard from the ICare Ambassadors about the rewarding careers on offer in the growing adult social care sector."

The Warrington Social Care Employment Partnership will hold a jobs fair at the Gateway on Sankey Street on Wednesday, June 7, between 2pm and 8pm.

Seventeen employers will provide information and advice on opportunities in the sector, including apprenticeships, and how to apply for them.

Martin Clarke from Care Concepts added: "As well as people looking for work, we are aiming this at people who are maybe already in work but that may want a career change and who would like to consider our sector and working with local people to make a difference in their lives."