The health and social care sector continues to face longstanding challenges and is now in urgent need of recruitment solutions. With high vacancy rates, limited opportunities for career progression and rising demand, the industry has witnessed concerning employee turnover in recent years, with nearly 30% of the sector’s employees leaving in the past year alone.
Despite 1.5 million people working in the sector, almost 10% of roles remain vacant, adding to the strain on communities across the country.
Partnering with employers to close the skills gap
Maximus is committed to being part of the solution, as our dedicated teams draw on decades of experience to support the sector as it navigates its ongoing recruitment challenges. Fundamental to our success are the ongoing partnerships with more than 190 local and national employers in the sector, helping to bridge the skills gap and reduce the burden of recruitment.
In Wales, our teams have been working with Cera Care to provide highly skilled participants through our cost-free recruitment services.
Daniel Edwards, Recruitment Manager at Cera Care, explained: “Social care is struggling as a whole across the nation, and we have certainly felt the strain of trying to attract the right people into care roles.
“We’ve had great success with our recruitment since partnering with Maximus, and in North Wales, they have provided us with more than 15 participants of a high calibre. Compared to other employability services, Maximus remains invested in their participants, even during their employment with us, and continue to support that person.”
Tailored solutions to address recruitment and retention issues
By working closely with our employer partners, we can tailor our approach to meet their specific needs and provide participants with the skills and qualifications to pursue a career in care.
Debra Kurmis, Business Manager at Maximus, added: “Care is a specialised sector and doesn’t suit everybody, so it’s really important that we are able to help our participants understand what is involved in the role.
“Working in care can be very demanding. It involves long hours and many vacancies require transport, particularly in domiciliary care. There are a lot of people who cannot drive or don’t have access to a vehicle, and when living in rural communities this adds to the difficulties when recruiting care workers locally.”
For the past year, we’ve also been partnering with local employers such as Personalized Care in Keighley to help with their recruitment drive, placing more than 15 people into various positions with the company.
Mazar Hussain, Managing Director at Personalized Care, said: “Working with Maximus has been invaluable. Their dedicated team listen to provide us with participants who have the qualities needed to work in the care sector. Without them and their help we would have really struggled to recruit and meet some of our contractual agreements.”
Debra added: “We provide Personalized Care with participants who are passionate, motivated and want to work within the care industry. They meet with the employer, are provided with a buddy and complete a work trial. Participants can see exactly what is required of them and the employer can determine whether the individual has the right qualities to be a carer. Our relationship with Personalized Care works really well.”
Maximus remains dedicated to supporting the care sector in overcoming its recruitment and retention challenges by continuing to work closely with our employer partners.
If you are an employer in the care sector and facing recruitment challenges, contact our team to find out how we can help meet your recruitment needs.
