July update Outcome 3 Recruitment and Retention Report June 2009
Angela Coote
To further develop and embed existing care ambassador projects, support projects and initiatives which raise the profile of the care sector, promote care as a career opportunity. To help employers develop effective staff recruitment and retention procedures. Progress engagement with untapped audiences.To work wirh Education Business partnership and job Centre Plus, Promote the SHD Diploma and Apprenticeships.
Cornwall Care Ambassador Project Background and update
The project was funded from Jan 2006, launched in September 2006 in the north of Cornwall and rolled out to the rest of Cornwall in Feb 2007. The initial target to recruit and train 20 Ambassadors, set by the initial funders the LSC was exceeded. 24 Ambassadors all working in care with at least level 2 NVQ, received CIEH accredited Train the Trainer qualification in presentation skills. The numbers of active ambassadors from this initial funding has reduced to 10. New two day training in July and September 08 and Feb 09 has brought this number back up to 26
The project worker is working 2 to 3 days per week.
Care Ambassadors have attended 39 events this academic year
Celebration lunch 2nd June
A celebration lunch was held on 2nd June at Atlantic Reach Newquay. Invitations were sent to all Care Ambassadors and their managers, all schools and colleges in Cornwall, Job Centre Plus, EBP and training providers plus representatives from DASC and CPIC and Devon Care Ambassador Coordinators. 30 people attended the day. Guest speakers were Denise Harrison fromsSkills for Care SW who devised the care ambassadors scheme and John Nash who is national lead for recruitment and retentions for Skills for Care. They presented certificates to Care Ambassadors trained this year.
Workshops were held in the morning and afternoon with the Care Ambassadors and managers to find out how they can promote the project and develop resources.
Feedback suggests that this could be an annual event and is featured in the first newsletter.
Recruiting and maintaining a minimum of 20 trained Care Ambassadors
There are currently 26 active Care Ambassadors in Cornwall 22 from the adult workforce and 4 from Children's workforce. This includes 7 men one of whom is a service user and a Care Ambassador who was trained in Devon and has moved to the Isles of Scilly. Two Ambassadors have now been promoted to Manager and Assistant manager
Update in July 1 Ambassador has resigned because of job commitments and the 4 Trelawney ambassadors have all moved on.
Action Plan for recruitment and training of new Ambassadors
There is always the need to recruit and train new Care Ambassadors because they move on in career and for personal reasons. There is currently a waiting list of 6 Ambassadors for the next training in due to take place on 9th and 10th September. There are also 5 more potential ambassadors in the pipeline.
Care managers are inviting the CA Coordinator to staff meetings to talk about the scheme which is an effective way to recruit new ambassadors. This is as a result of CPIC promoting the project via meetings and newsletters.
Identifying individual CPD needs for Care Ambassadors
Training that is available via Convergence funding is forwarded to all Care Ambassadors and places are currently available
CPD has been offered to the Care Ambassadors who have train the trainer qualifications. They are invited to deliver day 2 of the new Care Ambassador training.
Outcomes from Engagement with Job Centre Plus
Care Ambassadors were invited by Job Centre Plus to help organise a careers fair "Who Cares?" held in Jan 2009 in Truro. Over 300 people attended this event.
As a follow up there were 3 pre employment training courses focussing on care run by Maximus training. A Care Ambassador delivered careers talks and care values workshops.46 people attended the course and tracking shows that this has resulted in 16 people starting jobs.
This was is a pilot event which will be replicated in other parts of Cornwall and Devon. Job Centre Plus marketing department are producing a guide for organising future events. All marketing material, posters and information went out with Care Ambassador logo. This has increased the awareness of jobs in a social care to a new audience.
Identifying untapped target audiences and to promote careers in care to older people.
Care Ambassadors have spoken to groups of lone parents who are on back to work courses and will be working further with the training providers so that potential employees receive relevant pre employment training such as first aid, manual handling, food hygiene etc. The materials used at schools have been used to good effect with only small adaptation needed to the way the information is presented.
Care Ambassadors are working one to one to broker work experience with a number of people referred by training providers.
Working with Education Business Partnership and developing geographical cluster links
On March 17th there was a teachers training event in Penwith which was an opportunity for teachers from local schools to meet with care managers. They discussed how they can help each other and make direct contacts so that teachers can organise visits to care homes. This pilot was a success and a second event took place to cover Camborne/Redruth and Truro on the 16th July. Event feedback was good.
Details of events attended at schools colleges and Job Centre Plus and approximate numbers of students/others reached
From the start of the project there has been a focus on attending events at schools and colleges such as careers fairs and classroom talks. Information has been disseminated to a potential 8,397 people. This is based on the number of students and parents who attended careers events and includes information given to teachers and lecturers. The current year figures include attendance at Job Centre Plus events.
There has been an increase each year of events attended.
From Jan 06 to July 07 attended 19 events
From September 07 to July 08 attended 24 events
Total this academic year from September 08 to Date attended 39 events and seen 3,346 people
Evidence of a sustainability framework in place
The Project Coordinator, working 2/3 days a week, has developed the project by working in partnership with DASC, EBP, CPIC, Care providers, Schools, Colleges Connexions and Job Centre Plus.
There is continued support for the project. Care managers are coming forward to support events that are organised and have a growing awareness of the need for work placement requests from Schools, colleges and Job Centre Plus. They continue to nominate new and replacement Care Ambassadors.
Care Ambassadors are being used regularly as a resource by schools and colleges and now Job Centre Plus and training organisations. This is evidenced by the fact that we have repeat bookings planned for the next two terms.
Working with SHD Diploma
Joint presentations and workshops with the Devon and Cornwall Care Ambassadors have taken place in November and December at Budehaven School Cornwall along with students from Holdsworthy School in Devon. This is an example of sharing good practice which will be disseminated to Cornwall Care Ambassadors at the next training ready for SHD roll out in September 2009.
Sue Nicholas who is the consortium lead for Truro college, Roseland, Penair and Richard Lander schools is on the Care Ambassador steering group and she has invited Gail Pearson of CPIC and Angela Coote Care Ambassador Coordinator to be part of the SHD Diploma working group. There are plans for bespoke training days for employers to learn about the practical application of the Diploma.
Future plans
- Continue to work with Schools, Colleges, Job Centre Plus and to contribute to pre employment training courses
- EBP Teachers training days next term in north and west of county.
- Ongoing recruitment for training new Ambassadors in September to maintaining a core of 20 + Ambassadors.
- To work closely with CPIC and to have a regular feature in the CPIC news letter.
- To compile a database by postcode of care managers who are willing to participate in a structured programme of work experience placements for students and/or job seekers.
- To develop clusters of Care providers linked to schools and Job centres with a Lead Care Ambassador in each geographical area.
- To promote SHD and apprenticeships
- To continue attend meetings with Skills for Care (next one due 18th Aug in Taunton).
Oucome 3 Recruitment and Retention Report October 2008 - Angela Coote
To further develop and embed existing care ambassador projects, support projects and initiatives which raise the profile of the care sector, promote care as a career opportunity. To help employers develop effective staff recruitment and retention procedures and engage with the SHD Diploma and Apprentiships.
Cornwall Care Ambassador Project Background and update
The project was launched in September 2006 in the north of Cornwall and rolled out to the rest of Cornwall in Feb 2007. The initial target to recruit and train 20 Ambassadors , set by the LSC the initial funders was exceeded. 24 Ambassadors all working in care with at least level 2 NVQ, have received CIEH accredited Train the Trainer qualification in presentation skills. The numbers of active ambassadors from this initial funding has reduced to 12. New training in July and September has brought this number back up to 21 with 7 nominations for training in November or Jan.
The project worker is working 2 to 3 days per week.
Number and details of Ambassadors
There are currently 21 active care Ambassadors in Cornwall 19 from the adult workforce and 2 from Children’s workforce. This includes 7 men one of whom is a service user.
The target to recruit and train 10 ambassadors from the Children’s workforce has not been met but recruitment is ongoing with 3 more Ambassadors from the sector due to train in November
Details of audiences engaged with and approximate numbers of students others reached
Since September 07 there has been a focus on attending careers fairs and information has been disseminated to a potential 4161 people. This is based on the number of students and parents who attended careers events and includes information given to teachers and lecturers. From Jan 07 to Sept 07 the numbers seen were 830 which gives a total of 4991 people seen from the start of the project.
This academic year we have been invited to 26 events with bookings going forward to June 2009.
A recent Pathways to health careers event was attended by 5 over 500 students and contact was made with 10 new teachers who are interested in booking the Ambassadors for careers or classroom events or to engage with work experience.
CPD undertaken by Ambassadors
CPD has been offered to the Care Ambassadors who have train the trainer qualifications. They have been asked to deliver day 2 of the new Care Ambassador training. Only 3 ambassadors were able to attend. Suitable mentoring courses are being researched.
Evidence of a sustainability framework in place
The Project Coordinator, working 2/3 days a week, has developed the project by working in partnership with DASC, EBP, CPIC, Care providers, Connexions and Job Centre Plus. A network of employers who support the project has been established and the project is being used regularly as a resource by schools and colleges. This is evidenced by the fact that we have repeat bookings planned for the next academic year booked as far ahead as June 2009. Care employers are nominating replacement Care Ambassadors for training.
Children’s Workforce
Partnership working with the children’s workforce has been established by attendance at Communities of Practice meetings and by attending PCSG Children’s Subgroup..
Information about the scheme has been sent out to senior managers within Early Years, CWD, Children’s Centres and Family Services asking for suitable candidates to be nominated for training. This has resulted in 2 Ambassadors and 3 more possible nominations
Evidence of work carried out with the Learning Exchange
The Project Coordinator has attended 3 LEN events One in Camborne and two in Bodmin. This has resulted in 10 expressions of interest in the project and 2 new ambassadors recruited.
Working with SHD Diploma
Joint presentations with the Devon Coordinator and Care Ambassadors are planned for November and December at Budehaven School Cornwall which is part of a consortium with Holdsworthy School in Devon. This is in preparation for a pilot Communications module which will be rolled out at the schools during the spring term. This is an example of sharing good practice which will be disseminated to Cornwall Care Ambassadors ready for SHD roll out in September 2009.
Joint working with Job Centre Plus
Care Ambassadors have been invited by Job Centre Plus to help organise a careers fair “Who Cares?” which is to be held in Jan 2009 in Truro. This will also need the input of care managers to attend the day with job vacancies and careers information. The Ambassadors have been invited to talk to job centre plus staff at St Austell, Bodmin, Newquay, Truro, Penryn and Redruth to update them about job opportunities in the care sector so that they can invite suitable candidates to attend the careers fair.
This is a pilot event which will be replicated in other parts of Cornwall and in Tor Bay.
Future plans
To compile a database by post code of care managers who are willing to participate in a structured programme of work experience placements for students and/or job seekers. For school placements linked to EBP they can become platinum providers and appear on Cornwall County Council Schools website.
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