6th October 2022
The challenge
Like all employers in the care sector, we are facing challenges to recruit colleagues. Along with the people we support, our colleagues are the most important part of our business. To try and show the varied and rewarding roles a career in care can bring, we have taken a new approach and developed initiatives to recruit talent across the town.
Who we are?
Bolton Cares is the biggest care provider in Bolton. We provide high quality, person centred care and support for people with a range of diverse needs. Passionate about helping people to live independently and live the life they want their way www.boltoncares.org.uk
Recruiting local talent
In April we launched our ‘Do it for Bolton’ campaign. Our focus was to recruit and train local people into Support Worker roles. So far, we have had over 150 enquiries and since May welcomed 50 new starters to the company, 34 permanent employees and 16 bank staff (who we can call when needed)
We are still recruiting for Support Workers. Why not join us.
- We don’t need people who are experts, you just have to care
- We will give you all the industry standard training and development you need to be the best you can be
- You will be joining a supportive environment and working with some amazing people
Take a look at our careers Job vacancies – Bolton Cares and Meet our colleagues – Bolton Cares
To help sustain our ‘Do it for Bolton’ campaign, we have streamlined the way we select and interview candidates to ensure that our colleagues share our values and get a feel for what a career with us looks like. We also offer a six day induction for new starters to ensure that staff are trained, upskilled and supported from day one. We have had some great comments.
“I feel I am joining a company that really cares about me as a new employee”
“I feel I learned a lot about the Company and what is expected of me and looking forward to applying what I learned in my role.”
To further support our new colleagues, we are working collaboratively with Bolton College to offer basic English, Maths and digital skills courses for those who need extra help.
A key part of our mission to recruit local talent is to invest in our apprenticeship scheme. Since 2019 we have successfully supported 41 apprentices to gain qualifications in Health and Social Care, Care Management, Accountancy, HR and Business Administration.
We currently have 13 apprentices working in a variety of different roles across Extra Care, Supported Living, in our Head Office and our Autism services.
Multi agency working to help us recruit
In May we partnered with Jobcentre Plus Bolton Council, Bolton College and Department for Work and Pensions DWP on an initiative called SWAP (sector-based work academy programme)
The scheme helps prepare people who have been unemployed for longer than 12 months to get back into work. Bolton Cares offered eight local people work experience and they have now joined the company as Support Workers and are thriving
Angela Walker our Head of People said.
“The whole SWAP scheme, from the beginning to the end was well planned and organised and has resulted in some great appointments for the company.”
Penny Applegate Partnership Manager at DWP said
“DWP at Bolton Jobcentre have been delighted to work with Bolton Cares. By recruiting through a sector work academy programme, you have enabled many Jobseekers to start a new career in Care. We look forward to working with you again in the future.”