Devon's Care Ambassadors move into the second year of their recruitment and retention project for Social Care with a team of thirty one Care Ambassadors. Forty five ambassadors have been trained in total and, due to their increased confidence and enthusiasm for their chosen career, four have been promoted, out of area, and one has taken the next step into nursing.

The project is now driven by seven Stakeholders, Lyndridge Care, PCSG (Peninsula Care Sector Group), DCC (Devon City Council), represented by Devon Care Training, Plymouth City Council, Torbay PCT, Care South and Havencare.  With the input and support provided by these Stakeholders the whole project has moved on at an energetic and exciting pace.

The Care Ambassadors cover all parts of Devon and a rolling training programme is being used. Social Care is being seen as a ‘whole life services'. Care Ambassadors have been heavily involved in the new Society, Health and Development Diploma that is being piloted in Plymouth. The Diploma Champion lead is Jane Kellas, Venus Training, and a strong bond has been made between the Plymouth Care Ambassadors and the schools, colleges and Training Providers who are involved in delivering the diploma.  They have already been to address students in Plymouth schools and the City College about Social Care careers, as well as helping to deliver part of the Curriculum components devoted to Confidentiality and Communication, Preparing to Eat and Drink and a Care Values Workshop.

Some of Devon's Care Ambassadors at their Celebration Luncheon held at the Tiverton Hotel in March. They represent careers in Supported Living, Domiciliary support, Residential Care, Children's Respite and Residential care, Training Provider, Learning Difficulties and Nursing and Residential Care.

More joint work between Cornwall and Devon is being encouraged; Angela Coote, Cornwall Project Co-ordinator, has recently been involved in the recent Care Ambassadors training. Care Ambassadors continuing professional development is a focus point as well as the improvement of the presentations given in schools and colleges

Care Ambassadors have been involved with thirty four Schools by June 08. Eight six actual presentations were given, as some schools required multiple class involvement.  Ten career events, three Teachers events, eight Service Provider Presentations and eight other events including BBC Radio Devon and Spotlight TV have been attended. This means that a potential audience of seven thousand people will have been reached via  presentations by June 08.

Connexions Information Days have been run in Barnstaple with great success and Care Ambassadors have been asked to return in the forthcoming year.

The immediate long term unemployed workforce has been engaged in conjunction with Job Centre Plus in Torquay, Bideford, Barnstaple and Exeter through Pre Employment Courses.  A recruitment day in Honiton is planned for 26 November with Job Centre Plus and Care Ambassadors with real job vacancies on offer.

Dee West would be happy to hear from any Service Providers, prospective Care Ambassadors, students and anyone wanting Social Care career advice. Taster Sessions and Work placements are welcomed too. Contact her on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 07966154272

These workshops use student interaction to inspire and broaden their understanding of the standards and types of work involved in Social Care and have been enthusiastically welcomed by the students and teachers.