Jump seen in new recruits for health and social care providers during COVID-19

Applications to work for the NHS and social care have soared as the nation works to battle coronavirus

- Sector News
28.04.20

According to NHS England, there were 407,000 applications submitted to work in the healthcare service last month alone. That was an increase of 13,500 in the same month last year. Visits to the NHS jobs website have also soared.

The Department of Health and Social Care has also launched a national recruitment campaign that aims to raise awareness of the opportunities that are available within the social care sector.

Currently, there are over 120,000 social care vacancies available across England, with the outbreak of COVID-19 creating an even greater demand than before.

A survey of frontline adult social care providers by Care Management Matters found that based on the 211 providers who responded:

34% of providers reported they urgently needed more staff
On average, the providers reported 25% of their workforce was currently unable to work due to COVID related issues (i.e self-isolating due to having symptoms)
54% were taking on temporary staff
39% of providers noted an increase in applications
36% of providers also noted volunteers coming forward – although many (49%) were not sure how best to utilise them yet

NHS England: Jump in NHS job applications as public back coronavirus battle

DHSC: Adult social care recruitment care campaign launched to boost workforce

Maybo perspective

Finding people suited to this demanding work is challenging at the best of times and over reliance on temporary staff a real concern. An additional challenge during COVID:19 has been induction and training of new recruits before they enter services and may need to support people with complex needs and behaviours.

Our clients have found a blended learning approach helpful for inducting new starters, combining eLearning with 'virtual classroom' inputs and short focused courses with infection controls, where necessary for practical skills.

Blended learning is also helping us maintain the knowledge and skills of existing staff during the crisis and with some clear benefits it will undoubtedly continue to play a role in learning of the future.