Recruiting care and support workers is a struggle which is felt across the entire Social Care sector. This has been a hot topic amongst those working in the industry and a key point brought up at the Social Care Roundtable earlier this year.

And why wouldn’t it be? The sector is struggling to grow and reach new demographics, as well as facing a notorious skills shortage. Those recruiting in the sector need to be pro-active and seek new and innovative ways of reaching the right people.

It’s key to remember that the initial stage of the recruitment process is about reaching the right audience. Who are the right people and where will you find them? For example, 82% of the Care sector workforce is made up of women and 97% of Pinterest users are also women- so why not use Pinterest to reach out to potential applicants?

Engaging with candidates face to face is another invaluable way of telling them about you and your business. There’s real opportunity here to win them over and start receiving applications. Talking one on one with the public not only increases brand awareness but also creates leads and, ultimately, means a higher number of applications. And don’t forget, not all potential applicants know where to look or even have access to the internet.

Have you tried canvassing local shopping centres? Our recruitment specialists have found this to be particularly successful. By contacting your chosen establishment and finding which days are the busiest for footfall, you have the potential to reach a much wider audience. Promotional signs, banners and flyers are usually very successful, with flyers being a great way of getting information out quickly.

Once set up, don’t expect candidates to approach you and fill in an application form- be pro-active! Approach your audience and be ready to either hand out a hard copy of your application form or direct them to your jobsite.

Making a note of everyone who shows an interest is important as you will need to ensure that you engage with potential candidates after the event- this contact is just as important as the initial conversation you had with them. Some individuals may need further support or prompting to apply.

This really is a great way to engage with a whole new audience. Many Social Care businesses are already working with schools, colleges and even more closely with the job centre to reach and engage with new demographics and placing yourself in the midst of the general public can yield great results.

Have a look at our ebook on Future Proofing Social Care to see how we are trying to help the sector combat their recruitment challenges.