News
New drive for social care recruits kicks off in Blaenau Gwent
22 March 2010
Blaenau Gwent will see the launch of a new drive to attract more young people to work in social care as Wales heads towards a future where a growing number of vulnerable people will need support.
The Care Council for Wales will kick off its new initiative to encourage more under-25s to take up jobs in social care at the Valleys Information Technology and Communications Centre in Tredegar Business Park on Thursday 25 March (12.30pm).
Students from Coleg Gwent will be given a preview of new films featuring young people talking about their jobs in social care. The series of short films is part of a broader package of materials that will be used around Wales to increase interest in jobs that can range from working with people in residential centres to helping others live safely and independently at home. In an event hosted by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, the students will be given the opportunity to provide feedback about the films and ask questions about all aspects of a career in social care.
They will also be told about a new Care Ambassador scheme, which is being launched by Social Care Partnerships across Wales. Two voluntary ambassadors will be appointed to each local authority and they will give talks to students in schools and colleges that offer health and social care qualifications, with the aim of raising awareness of the benefits of a career in social care.
The Care Council films will be used on websites, including social networking sites, and will be compiled into a DVD that will be shown at jobs fairs. They will be supported by leaflets and there will also be a separate publication aimed at older potential recruits who may be looking to change career or return to work.
In Wales, the number of 65 to 84-year-olds is projected to increase by 24% by 2018. Those aged 85 or over are expected to increase by 29% by 2018, with a third of them likely to need 24-hour care.
Arwel Ellis Owen, Chair of the Care Council, said: "There are many projections about the population in Wales growing older and living longer. What they all show is that demand for social care is likely to grow significantly. This means we need to play our part in attracting higher numbers of good quality people to work in social care.
"These new films have been produced in a way that is designed to speak clearly to young people. They feature people of the same age talking about how they became involved in social care and how their jobs have turned out for them. We hope that hearing about these experiences directly will help other young people see social care in a new light and as a possible career. Showing the films is an important part of our Council’s visit to Blaenau Gwent, where we will be keen to exchange information and listen to the views of councillors and officers involved in social services and people who use those services in the area," he added.
Ends
If you wish to attend the showing of the new films, please contact Charmine Smikle on 029 2078 0626 or Malcolm Williams on 029 2078 0634. The address of the Valleys Information Technology and Communications Centre is Tredegar Business Park, Tredegar, NP22 3EL.