Caroline Dinenage backs campaign encouraging more people to work in care

The Minister of State for Care, Caroline Dinenage, has pledged her support for a new campaign to encourage more people to work in the care profession.

The campaign comes at a crucial time for adult social care, with staffing issues being a concern for many agencies. The ‘You Can Care’ campaign run by Home Instead aims to get more people to see care as a career option and not just a job.

Care staff recruitment and retention issues are increasingly likely against a political backdrop of uncertain Brexit outcomes. And with the social care green paper delayed again, until April, the situation is becoming more urgent.

One charity, Skills for Care, estimates eight per cent of adult social care roles are vacant, equating to approximately 110,000 vacancies at any one time, and the Home Instead campaign hopes to have some influence in attracting people to consider care as a career option.

Explaining the benefits of working within the care profession, Ms Dinenage said at the launch: “Care work is a hugely rewarding career which has a real impact on people’s lives, supporting them to enjoy their later years.

“It’s great to see a home care business which is so passionate about helping older people age well. Quality care like this plays a crucial role in enabling older people to stay living healthily and happily at home for longer.”

This new initiative follows last year’s campaign where hundreds of people took to social media to share inspirational stories using the hashtag #YouCanCare.

Home Instead care worker Celia Jenkins, age 29, said: “When care is done the right way – not rushed visits and really focusing on the person and building a relationship with them – it is one of the most rewarding jobs ever.

“I completely love my job. I love the feeling of making a difference to an older person’s life and to simply bring a smile to their day.”