Annual campaign launches highlighting opportunities for rewarding career in adult Social Care

PEOPLE across England are being encouraged to join the adult Social Care workforce with Government launching its annual recruitment campaign.

The 'Made with Care' campaign is returning for a 2nd year and highlights the wide range of opportunities available to build a career in care and help others to live happy, healthy, fulfilling lives.

Running until March 2023, campaign advertising will appear to millions across video on demand platforms such as ITV Hub, Sky Go and All 4; radio and digital audio channels, such as Spotify and social media and digital channels, like Facebook and Instagram, to direct job seekers to:- AdultSocialCare.Co.UK.

Here, people will be able to find everything they need to research a career in adult Social Care and, crucially, search and apply for adult Social Care jobs near them; with support to perfect their CV and advice on interviews.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:- "Working in Social Care is rewarding, inspiring and provide career opportunities with a range of roles you may have never considered. To get started, you just need to have the right qualities including kindness and compassion to support people's loved ones and make a difference. This Government is committed to a sustainable Social Care sector and anyone can play a part by joining this incredible workforce."

With a variety of vacancies and jobs and with record investment in adult Social Care from the Government, there has never been a better time for people with the right qualities to seize the opportunity and begin a career in care.

From support workers who help people in care with day to day activities, to shared lives carers who welcome people who need care into their homes and family life; there's something for everyone looking to take on meaningful work within the sector.

Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy, said:- "I'm proud to be working in Social Care as it provides so many diverse opportunities for registered Nurses and the incredible professional care workforce who make a difference to people's lives. You will meet and work with wonderful people and be a part of something bigger than yourself. Come and join the adult Social Care workforce. It is the best decision I ever made."

With advertising planned across England, the 'Made with Care' campaign will reach millions of people this winter, highlighting the amazing work staff across the adult Social Care sector do and celebrating the way they empower the people they support - shining a light on the emotional rewards of the role to inspire more people to consider a job in adult Social Care.

Opportunities are available today and training is provided. Flexible working patterns are often available, making it the perfect career choice for those with other commitments.

Harry Beckwith, Support Worker said:- "I wanted to come into care because I just enjoy seeing people happy. I love making them smile. I decided to work in care with adults just because I wanted to explore what I could do, what experiences I could get, and learn from those I care for as much as they learn from me. If someone told me they wanted to go and work in care I'd say go straight for it. Honestly, it's the most rewarding job I've ever had. It's just nice to help someone who needs help."

Social Care is a top priority for the Government, backed by £5.4 billion and the 10 year People at the Heart of Care plan to reform Social Care so there has never been a better time to join the sector.

Recognising the current challenges faced by the Social Care sector and Local Government, the Government has also committed £500 million to support discharge from Hospitals. This funding will ease pressure and build a stronger NHS to ensure the people of our country get the care they need and deserve.

Oonagh Smyth, Chief Executive Officer for Skills for Care, said:- "Skills for Care is excited to see the next phase of the Made with Care campaign progress. Our 'State of the adult Social Care sector and workforce in England' report released in October has really highlighted the recruitment and retention challenges the adult Social Care sector is facing right now, with vacancy levels having increased 52% in the past year to the highest rate on record. At the same time the number of filled posts has fallen, this is the 1st drop in the number of care workers ever. We need to talk more about the rewarding and fulfilling career that adult Social Care can offer, and we hope the Made with Care campaign will raise awareness of the value and variety of a career in care and the important contribution that the 1.5 million people currently working in adult Social Care are making to our communities. Skills for Care hosted a webinar in October for Social Care providers to find out more about the Made with Care campaign and how it can support them, and we'll be continuing to support the campaign as it moves into its next phase."

An ADASS spokesperson said:- "The recruitment campaign Made with Care is so important in showing the wide variety of roles across adult Social Care, as well as just how meaningful and essential the work is. It's vital that adult Social Care is seen as an enriching career, comprised of a talented workforce making it possible for us all to live the lives we want to live"

Letter to Editor:- "Blind and partially sighted people in need of support during the Cost of Living Crisis"

"EVEN before prices began to rise, 1 in 5 blind and partially sighted people said they had some or great difficulty in making ends meet. It is deeply concerning that many are now using less energy to save money and afford the rising cost of living. Blind and partially sighted people rely on additional lighting to get around safely, using taxis to travel independently and assistive technologies to help with day to day tasks; adding to energy costs. People with sight loss also tend to rely heavily on various electrical domestic appliances, like talking microwaves, to maximise their basic independence. People with sight loss generally are also unable to find discounts online due to inaccessible websites and they are often unable to see discounted items in retail outlets. We intend to speak-up ever more loudly on this issue, because it's clear that people's budgets are going to be under pressure for many months to come, and we fear that increased numbers of blind and partially sighted people will be feeling financial pressures this Winter. We will be increasing the practical assistance we offer to help deal with these economic pressures. Our Helpline advisors can talk through and identify the financial support available in specific areas such as fuel poverty. They can also provide advice on benefits, tax allowances and concessions that people with sight loss are entitled to, and how to apply. People with sight loss or their family or friends can call our Helpline on:- 03031239999, or if they have an Alexa device just say:- 'Alexa, call RNIB Helpline.' Alternatively, they can visit:- RNIB.Org.UK/Advice or email:- Helpline@RNIB.Org.UK." Sophie Dodgeon, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People)

Latest obesity figures for England show a strong link between children living with obesity and deprivation

THE prevalence of reception aged children living with obesity in England during 2021 to 2022 was 13.6%, over twice as high, in the most deprived areas than 6.2% within the least deprived areas.

This difference is also seen in year 6 children; with 31.3% living with obesity in the most deprived areas compared with 13.5% in the least deprived areas.

Published by NHS Digital, the National Child Measurement Programme, England 2021 to 224 report found that the prevalence of reception aged children living with severe obesity was over 3 times as high for children living in the most deprived areas (4.5%) than for children living in the least deprived areas (1.3%).

Similarly, the prevalence of year 6 children living with severe obesity was over 4 times as high for children living in the most deprived areas (9.4%) compared with those living in the least deprived areas (2.1%).

The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) 5 overseen by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and analysed and reported by NHS Digital; measures the height and weight of children in England annually and provides data on the number of children in reception and year 6 who are underweight, healthy weight, overweight, living with obesity or living with severe obesity.

The prevalence of reception aged children living with obesity in 2021 to 2022 was highest in the North East (11.4%) and the West Midlands (11.3%). It was lowest in the South East (8.7%), South West (8.9%) and East of England (9.2%).

For year 6, the prevalence of children living with obesity was highest in the North East (26.6%), the West Midlands (26.2%) and London (25.8%). It was lowest for year 6 children in the South West (19.8%), the South East (20.0%) and the East of England (21.4%).

Underweight prevalence was highest in London for reception aged children at 1.9%, and year 6 at 1.7%.

The prevalence of children living with obesity varied by local authority8. For reception aged children, this ranged from 5.4% in Richmond upon Thames to 14.9% in Sandwell. In year 6 the range was from 12.4% in Surrey, to 34.0% in Sandwell.

The prevalence of children living with obesity was highest in urban areas for both age groups: 10.4% in reception and 24.4% in year 6.

The prevalence of reception aged children living with obesity had been relatively stable since 2006 to 2007, but it saw a 4.6 percentage point increase from 9.9% in 2019 to 2020 to 14.4% in 2020 to 2021, the main year of the Covid19 Pandemic.

This latest data shows a decrease to 10.1% in 2021-22 which is 0.4 percentage points above the pre-Pandemic figure from 2018to 2019.

For year 6, the prevalence of children living with obesity increased slowly from 19.0% in 2010 to 2011 to 21.0% in 2019-20 and then increased by 4.5 percentage points to 25.5% in 2020 to 2021.

This latest data shows a decrease to 23.4% in 2021 to 2022 which is 3.2 percentage points above the pre-Pandemic figure from 2018 to 2019.

The prevalence of children living with obesity in 2021 to 2022 was highest for Black children in both reception (16.2%) and year 6 (33.0%). It was lowest for Chinese children in both reception (4.5%) and year 6 (17.7%).

Underweight prevalence was highest for Asian children in both reception (4.3%) and year 6 (3.3%).