A special event aimed at encouraging more people in Nottinghamshire to consider a career in the care sector comes to Mansfield this Friday.

Nottinghamshire County Council has been working with independent providers of home and residential care in the county, on initiatives to increase the recruitment and retention of care professionals in these settings, helping to reduce vacancy rates and drive up standards.

The Careers in Care jobs fair is taking place at the Towers, Botany Avenue, Mansfield on Friday, 21st August (9.30am to 4.30pm).

The event is being organised by Optimum Workforce Leadership, part of Nottinghamshire County Council, and are part of a range of initiatives aimed at improving the profile and reputation of caring as a career.

The recruitment event provides a unique opportunity to:

•Meet local employers and discuss the different local vacancies available
•Find the job that suits your life with a range of hours and flexible working
•Hear expert speakers explain the careers available in health and social care
•Find out about the opportunities available if you’re returning to work or recently retired looking for a few hours work each week
•Get information, support and guidance for nurses who want to return to work.

People attending are advised to dress smartly and bring a CV – firms in attendance have vacancies recruiting and there will be an opportunity to apply for jobs on the day.

National Minimum Data Set figures for social care, show that there are more than 10,000 jobs in care roles in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, with 729 (7%) currently vacant. The vacancy rate nationally stands at 8.3%.

Over the next 12 years, the number of older people in Nottinghamshire aged over 65 will rise by almost a quarter, to 196,400. The number of people aged over 80 is projected to increase by between 1,100 and 1,600 every year up to 2025.

So the need for good quality care and carers now, and in the years to come, is greater than ever.

Bryan Allen, a former Virgin Atlantic cabin crew who switched to a career in care 12 years ago, will be one of the expert speakers at the event. Bryan, who is now Manager of Nationwide Care, based in Nottingham, said: “Caring should be regarded as a profession, not just a job.

“I started off as a home care worker 12 years ago and for the first two weeks I hated it. But then I received a letter from one of the ladies I’d been caring for. She was suffering from terminal cancer and wrote to me to say thank you for how I was helping to make the time she had left better and more comfortable. It was the ‘light bulb’ moment for me when I realised the difference a carer can make and the job satisfaction it can bring.

“Sadly, the only type of headline you tend to get about the care profession is negative but what gets forgotten is that there are so many high quality, professional carers working today who are enriching the lives of millions of people and society would be much the poorer without them.

“During my career in care I’ve seen the job develop and change for the better. There are now many more aspects to the job than there were when I started, with recognised qualifications – and I think more people are waking up to what an important and valued role it is. I hope more people will consider joining me in a career in care – it’s hard to think of a more rewarding profession.”

Councillor Muriel Weisz, Chair of Adult Social Care and Health Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council, added: “The demand for health and social care services has increased dramatically over the last few years as people live for longer with increasingly complex conditions. This has placed a huge strain on the social care system and demand will continue to rise.

“A career in care can be hugely rewarding – there can’t be many jobs which give you an opportunity to make such a direct, positive difference to people’s lives and I would urge people to go along to one of the jobs fairs to find out about the opportunities and job vacancies available now.”

As well as recruiting new carers, care employers are also catered for, with workshops on topical issues for the care industry including finding and keeping workers, career development in healthcare roles and recruitment methods.

Employer Workshop places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Employers wanting to book a place should email [email protected]