"Having a Care Ambassador on the staff has brought us more good publicity than any paid advertising could ever have done"

There are many benefits to having Care Ambassadors among the workforce. They:

• Continually promote their own organisation as well as the sector as a whole
• Can be an organisation's best recruitment tool by being a direct link to the future workforce
• Promote learning and development and good practice among their colleagues
• Act as mentors and role models within their own workplace
• Link with schools, colleges, and employment agencies, facilitating creative programmes of work experience and taster sessions
• Are seen as an organisation's ‘shop window' when welcoming relatives and guests
• Gain in confidence, ability, and communication skills which are of value to their employer

Have you got a Care Ambassador among your staff?

We are looking for bright, confident people working in care, who are passionate and enthusiastic about their work, to be part of an exciting new challenge to engage and inspire a new generation of care professionals.

The Vision:

• To create an identifiable image for social care
• To enhance and change perceptions about careers in social care.
• To raise the image and status of the social care workforce
• To increase recruitment into the social care sector
• To inspire personal and professional development in the existing workforce
• To help achieve a highly trained workforce to meet future demands

What is a Care Ambassador?

Care Ambassadors are qualified and experienced care workers who act as role models to inspire and encourage others to consider careers in social care.

They are nominated by their employers and chosen for their enthusiasm, commitment, confidence, the wish to portray a positive image of the care sector, and the ability to convey their passion to others in an informed way.

Care Ambassadors are given presentation skills training before they join a locally co-ordinated programme of events in which they work with other Care Ambassadors to promote careers in care.

Care Ambassadors have to date worked with schools and colleges, JobCentre Plus, Connexions, Diploma Partnerships, and a range of other stakeholders and community groups including single parents, carers, early retirees, ethnic minority, and youth services to promote careers in care and facilitate taster sessions and work experience placements. They have also taken part in TV, radio and press features and countless careers events. In fact, you will probably find that Care Ambassadors can't stop promoting their work even when off-duty!

They act as direct link from care providers to students and jobseekers, offering work experience / placements and taster sessions.

They also act as mentors within their own workplaces, facilitating a creative programme of work experience and taster sessions.

What is involved for you and your Care Ambassadors?

"Whatever it has cost us to support our Care Ambassadors, we have been repaid a thousandfold by the buzz they have brought back to the workplace."

You:

Through an application form you recommend members of your staff who you feel would make suitable Care Ambassadors.

You can host work experience/placements and taster sessions; providing, effectively, a direct access route for new recruits into your workplace.

Support your staff in their role as Care Ambassadors

Care Ambassadors' time is arranged with their employer well in advance

Care Ambassadors:

Care Ambassadors are given intensive, but fun, presentation skills training before they join a locally co-ordinated programme of events in which they work with other Care Ambassadors to promote careers in care.

Care Ambassadors will deliver a presentation or attend an event as a pair or as part of a group. They will be able to tailor their presentation or workshop to suit their levels of confidence. Some Ambassadors are happier talking on a one-to-one basis to visitors at a career event or conference, and this is fine. The most important thing is that social care is talked about in a positive way!

It is not necessary to have any previous experience in presenting to an audience, but you should be enthusiastic about developing this skill. Care Ambassadors have gained in confidence and ability very quickly once they put this into practice. 

Care Ambassadors also act as mentors and role models within their workplace, facilitating a creative programme of work experience and taster sessions.

Care Ambassadors - in for the long term:

• It is important to recognise this is a long term initiative, aimed at enthusing students to take relevant courses to enter the profession, engaging and supporting them right the way through to eighteen, and is also aimed at working with other organisations to target the wider community of jobseekers.
• The benefits of volunteering a Care Ambassador will far outweigh the costs.

Care Provider Benefits:

• Care Ambassadors generate publicity and good news stories locally and regionally; they will be promoting your organisation as well as the sector as a whole!
• You will provide excellent development opportunities for key members of your staff.
• You will benefit from your Care Ambassador's increased confidence, skills, enthusiasm and motivation within the workplace.
• You will not only raise the profile of your own establishment but will also be part of a nationally recognised recruitment and retention initiative, which will lead to a more professional and trained workforce to meet the demands of the 21^st century.
• Your involvement will ensure you are constantly in touch with your future workforce.

Care Ambassador Benefits:

• You can share your enthusiasm and passion for your work, whilst encouraging a new generation of care professionals.
• Being involved will add diversity to your work and an extra dimension to your job role.
• You will be helped to develop presentation and communication skills - a bonus in your career!
• Increased job satisfaction and motivation.
• You will grow in confidence and both personally and professionally, whilst making a real difference in an enjoyable and rewarding way. 

Blue Sky:

If you cannot afford to volunteer a member of your staff as Care Ambassadors, you can still be involved in helping to promote career in care.