Build a career in care through new apprenticeship programme

A new and innovative apprenticeship programme has just been launched by Northumberland County Council and an information session to find out more about the scheme will be in Cramlington on July 25.

 

Care for Life will provide training and on the job experience for anyone over 16 who wants to get into a career in caring, and apprentices will also receive a wage while they learn.

 

There is a widely recognised need for more people to work in adult social care, and this new apprenticeship programme aims to produce a pipeline of skilled and motivated care workers.

 

It will bust myths around care work, get more people into this fulfilling and rewarding area of employment, and produce future managers and leaders.

 

There will be opportunities right across the county, with 30 places available this year in the first cohort.

 

In Northumberland there are around 9,400 jobs in adult social care, with 950 vacancies open at any one time.  The current workforce has an older profile – with the majority female and the average age 46. As the number of residents over 65 also increases it is estimated that the number of jobs in social care will increase by around 33% in the next 15 years.

 

Cath McEvoy-Carr, executive director of adult social care and children’s services, said:  “This new programme will give apprentices a fantastic range of experience and knowledge of the social care sector in Northumberland.

 

“We want to drive recruitment numbers across Northumberland, redress the demographic of social care workers, produce a ‘talent pipeline’ of skilled and motivated people and help produce leaders of the future.

 

“We want to create a clear career path and progression route for people who come into adult social care, and promote health and social care as a career of choice, ultimately improving services for those who use council and commissioned services in the county.

 

“We are looking for aspirational young people, either school or college leavers, who are looking for rewarding work. But it’s not only for the young; we will welcome anyone, of any age, who wants to change their career or come back into the work place in this fulfilling and diverse service area.

 

“As an apprentice you gain work experience, do a nationally recognised qualification and earn a wage. An apprenticeship is a great way to develop skills and knowledge and become a confident and skilled care worker. If you’re interested in adult social care an apprenticeship is a really good place to start.”

 

Northumberland runs very successful apprenticeship programmes where 92% of apprentices go on to full time work or further training.

 

As well as the council, independent and private sector care providers will be involved in the programme, with placements both in-house at the local authority and in the independent and voluntary sector.

 

Apprentices will learn about all aspects of social care services – including residential, learning and physical disability, re-enablement and personal independence, ‘shared lives’ and short term support services.

 

The council’s learning and skills service will provide Adult Care Worker Level 2 aspects of the programme, which will be supplemented by further training from Skills for Care.

 

Six people already working in adult social care in Northumberland have come forward as ambassadors for the programme and their stories will show applicants and potential applicants what it’s really like to work in adult social care.

The council is running Care for Life information events across the county, where carers and managers will help answer questions, and give potential apprentices and their families an insight into the world of care.

 

The team will be at:

• Alnwick Learning Centre on the 23 July;
• Queen’s Hall Hexham on the 24 July; and
• Concordia Leisure Centre in Cramlington on the 25 July.

The sessions will run from 10am to 12 noon, and 1pm to 3pm, with group talks by people in caring careers at 11am and 2pm.

 

You can find all the information about the events and the Care For Life apprenticeship and how to apply at  careforlife.org.uk or by phoning 01670 622104.

Pictured: Social care workers Aimie Doswell, Brian Wilkinson,  Jacob Rotheroe-Hemming, Bev Sproates and Julie Demir are pictured with (third from left) Stephen Holmes,  Service Director of Adult & Community Services at Northumberland County Council/Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.