Careers in Care
An opportunity for people to find out more about careers in care is on offer in South Tyneside next week.
South Tyneside Council is hosting a recruitment event next Friday (31 January)to support providers to find the right people to fill around 300 vacant care posts in the Borough.
The roles, which are available with the local authority, independent sector providers and direct payment recipients, are varied and range from care workers to personal assistants, Shared Lives carers and activities co-ordinators. The focus of these roles is about really understanding what matters to the person being supported and helping them to achieve this.
The recruitment event supports the Department of Health and Social Care's national 'When You Care, Every Day Makes a Difference' campaign and aims to show how rewarding a role in Adult Social Care can be.
The recruitment event will be held in South Shields Town Hall next Friday (31 January) between 10am and 4pm. People will have the opportunity to talk to care providers, current care staff and JobCentre Plus staff as well as education providers.
Councillor Tracey Dixon, Deputy Leader with responsibility for Independence and Wellbeing, said: "Working in the care sector is not only immensely rewarding, it can also offer a flexible career for people looking to juggle work with family responsibilities.
"If you are a compassionate, responsible and patient person with a desire to make a difference, then a career in care could be for you."
The opportunities for progression within the care sector are many and varied.
Daniel Quinn, who now works as a Quality Officer, decided to become a social worker when he left the Army after 22 years' service. With the support of the Army, he did a degree in social work at Sunderland University. After three years working as a social worker he moved into his current role which involves assessing and monitoring the quality of services commissioned to provide residents with the care and support they need to live as independently as possible.
He said: "This can be a challenging sector to come into but one that gives much more than just money as a reward.
"Do not be put off by what you think you can't do, look at what you can do. With enough time and effort you can do whatever you want. Development is for life."