Event to Grow Health and Social Care Workforce

Against the background of a national crisis in staffing levels in the NHS and social care, an event will be held next month in South Tyneside to recruit more workers and build a workforce representative of the local community.

A Health and Social Care Careers Fair will be held at Temple Park Leisure Centre in South Shields on Thursday 2 March in line with the Council's ambition of connecting people to jobs, skills and learning.

Between 4.00pm and 7.30pm, residents of South Tyneside will be able to meet employers actively recruiting staff and find out more about the opportunities available.

It is estimated that an additional 475,000 jobs will be needed in health and 490,000 in social care by the early part of the next decade.

As part of the Council's approach to widening participation, partners from health, social care, voluntary and community sectors as well as education and training establishments will come together to raise the profile of the types of health and social care careers available within the sector.

Councillor Anne Hetherington, Lead Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, said: "We want to encourage everyone to come forward to consider a career in health and social care. We want all our communities to have the opportunity to really understand the benefits and value of working in this sector and we are committed to putting in place a health and social care workforce which is truly representative of the South Tyneside communities we serve.

"On the day there will be representatives from organisations such as the Department for Work and Pensions, advocacy and translation services to offer additional support."

Earlier in the day an event will be held to encourage young people to consider a career in health or social care. Students aged 13 and above will be invited to the event to meet a range of professionals who will be able to advise on career pathways and inspire their future career choices. Students will also be able to take part in interactive activities such as the Dementia Bus and Autism Bus which will give them a greater insight into what life is like for people living with these conditions.

Councillor Adam Ellison, Lead Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: "There are over 350 different types of job roles in this sector so it's likely that our young people won't have even heard of many of them. By showcasing the wide variety of job roles and giving students the opportunity to meet ordinary people doing extraordinary things, we hope to open their eyes to the huge range of roles available, from social workers to data analysts, financial assessors to care workers, nurses and pharmacists."

To find out more visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/healthcarecareer