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Published 17th November 2020
Residents with an interest in starting up a career in the care sector are being urged to register their interest in a successful career-starting project.
The Sector Based Work Academy in Care is a joint project between Job Centre Plus, Southend Adult Community College, and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and is a four-week programme aimed at providing job opportunities within the care industry. Thirteen different care homes and domiciliary agencies took part in the last course project which is currently recruiting for its next course starting in January.
The course is free (whether applicants are Jobcentreplus attendees or not), and they attempt to help get every candidate a job – they had a good success rate with that at the last course . Most of the jobs are in the Southend area, in a range of care homes and with home care agencies.
Due to COVID restrictions the course is delivered virtually. The first week is an induction, then in the second week students undertake a course that covers the basics of working in the rewarding and dynamic care industry. Students then have a formal mock interview, and then complete the course with a guaranteed job interview with one or more of the care organisations taking part in the project – with one student at the last course being offered five interviews. He said: “This was a brilliant course that helped me to develop skills that I didn’t have, and I would strongly recommend this course to anyone that is interested in going into a career in care.”
If you are interested in taking part in the next course, scheduled for January 2021, please email economicd@southend.gov.uk
Labour’s Kevin Robinson, Southend Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Tourism, said: “Health and social care is a key growth sector in Southend and as such I am delighted to see that this project has led to nine people gaining jobs in the care sector. The project offers a fantastic opportunity at a time when many people may be struggling for work given the challenging times we find ourselves in.
“This collaborative project enables local people to have the opportunity to work in a sector like no other, and I would urge anyone with an interest in care, or even someone looking for a career change, to register an interest in the next course.”
Reproduced from a longer article on Southend Council’s website at www.southend.gov.uk/news/article/2090/course-to-help-residents-into-work-in-the-care-sector