PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 105
Staff-Short Care Firms Have No Time For Training Connect2Care’s latest research shows how misconceptions around apprenticeships could be impacting their potential to fix industry-wide staff retention problems Following the ‘Great Resignation’ of 2021 – when employees around the UK left their jobs in record numbers – a new survey has revealed that 100% of care managers continue to find it hard to retain staff. Yet while almost 90% believe that further training investment would help with recruitment and retention, less than 40% of care businesses offer apprenticeships to staff at all levels. Over a third have been deterred from offering training opportunities for new and existing employees due to the time investment needed. A further 37.5% of care managers are put off by the risk that an employee would leave after completing their training, even though more than 90% of people working in the sector have said they would be more likely to stay in a role if their employer invested in their training from the outset. Commenting on the research, Jill Whittaker, Managing Director at Connect2Care, said: “Since the pandemic began, staff shortages have been rife across a wide range of sectors, culminating in the ‘Great Resignation’ of 2021. And the care sector is among the hardest hit. “Yet while most care operators see the value in training when it comes to attracting and retaining staff, too many believe they don’t have the time to invest in this. But with the sector continuing to strug-
unlock skills quickly and fast-track staff into positions where they can make a real impact. New flexible training models under consideration by the Government are set to make this process even quicker. For example, front-loaded training will be invaluable in helping apprentices to hit the ground running and operate efficiently for their employers from the very beginning.” The study showed that most care operators are interested in flexible training options, with 75% of employers in the sector saying they would consider front-loaded training to help speed-up the process. Over 90% of employees in the field would be more willing to start an apprenticeship or training course if they could condense learning into a shorter period. Connect2Care has released a toolkit answering common questions about apprenticeships, with advice on how businesses can maximise them through flexible training options. gle with staff shortages, they can’t afford not to. “As well as playing a role in attracting and retaining valuable team members, apprenticeships have always been one of the best ways to
Find out which apprenticeship pathway will work best for your business with Connect2Care’s See the Opportunity toolkit, which can be downloaded for free. Visit https://connect2care.net/resources/see-the-opportunity/
Abbot Care Home Receive a Special Message from Novelist, Richard Osman The people living and working at Abbot Care Home in Harlow were overjoyed to receive a video message from none other than Novelist Richard Osman, wishing
everyone at Abbot Care Home, thanking them for choosing his novel. In his video message, the author addressed the home directly, saying “Hello everybody at Abbot Care Home, I hear you’re reading Thursday Murder Club for your first
them luck with their new book club! The care home recently reopened their library, which had been closed since the
book group (…) I really appreciate it, reading is so important. I’m so delighted your
start of the pandemic. Two of the people living at the home were thrilled to get
library has reopened and I’m very very proud that you’ve chosen The Thursday
involved, and enjoyed working with <image006.jpg>the team to redesign the space,
Murder Club as your first book.”
choosing the best spots for the bookshelves and ordering some of their favourite
The team at the home were shocked and delighted to receive such a kind message from Osman. Many of the team members are big Richard Osman fans and have
books! With the library back in action and looking better than ever, the team were excited to launch a brand-new book club. Their first book of choice was ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ by Richard Osman, on the recommendation of some of their colleagues.
loved reading his book. So, to hear that Richard knows about their club made it feel extra special! The video was shown to everyone in the book club and was met with great excite-
Everyone participating was given the option of a paperback copy, Kindle version, or
ment. They all agreed that it was so lovely of Richard to go out of his way and record
audiobook, to ensure that the book club was as accessible as possible.
a video for them.
Osman, the author of the club’s first pick, caught wind of the home’s brand-new
Excelcare would like to extend a big thank you to Osman and his team for putting
book club. He was honoured to have his work chosen as their first book after the
the video together. It truly touched the hearts of everyone at Abbot Care Home, and
library’s grand reopening! As a result, he took some time to send a video message to
after all their hard work, added some much deserved magic to the opening!
Armed Forces Day: First Impressions Count for Royal Star & Garter Home Manager
Qualified Nurse Jamie Stubbs worked for the NHS before joining the RAF in December 1995. During his 19-year military career, he attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant Nurse. Now he is the Home Manager at Royal Star & Garter in Solihull. To mark Armed Forces Day, he reflects on finding his dream job at the veterans’ care home. I remember walking into the Home for the first time on Christmas Eve, following my appointment as the Interim Home Manager. It was a real opportunity to just feel and see the service I’d heard so much about. It was critical for me that it went well, but I’m always nervous when I’m about to meet a new team on unfamiliar territory. As I approached the reception door with an outstretched finger to press the buzzer, it miraculously opened! Stood there with the warmest welcome was Kevin, who is our Driver and part of the Wellbeing Team. Unknown to me, the Home had received my biography prior to arrival. Kevin appeared to have memorised the whole document because instantly he knew all about me and my past! This led to very easy conversation and instantly settled my nerves. Kevin took me into reception where I was warmly greeted by Sam, the receptionist. Sam explained that she would let Lead Nurse Heni know I’d arrived, which allowed me to have several minutes to soak up the energy of the Home. I was simply delighted to hear staff laughing and talking with each other as they passed through. There was all the hustle and bustle of getting ready
for Christmas Day. The immense Christmas tree was up in the foyer, there was chatter, there was a buzz in the Home. As I sat there, the military paintings on the wall took me and my thoughts away to familiar places and spaces. I served in the RAF for 19 years, and the paintings made me feel comfortable, almost like I had visited before. Heni then came to greet me. It’s hard to read people’s faces when they have masks on, but I could tell from her eyes that she was smiling, and her introduction was real, warm and genuine. We went to the Lead Nurses’ office and the conversation was easy, free-flowing and it became clear that we both held very similar views on what personcentred care should look like. She spoke with passion about the Home, the residents, the team and the charity. It was infectious - I had felt this energy from the minute I walked into the Home. Heni told me that two other Lead Nurses - Yuriy and Nadine - were coming in on their days off to say ‘Hi’ and introduce themselves! This hadn’t happened to me before, I am acutely aware of how hard people work in this sector, and days off are precious. The reception I received from them was warm, welcoming and from the heart. It was clear their passion and drive matched mine. I felt all my Christmases had come at once! How could I be sat in a room with three people who all wanted to achieve what I did and more? I had never experienced this in adult social care before. One thing that I will never forget from that meeting was when they said to me: “Tell us about you, not the manager you, the real you.” They wanted to know what kind of human I was. That told me all I needed to know about this band of three. The person inside is everything to them and that’s how it should be. My tour of the Home with the three Lead Nurses was a wonderful experience. Each floor was buzzing with laughter, smiling residents, activities and such a positive feeling. Every member of staff I came into contact with wanted to talk to me, they were genuinely interested in me and what I had done previously. They spoke about their work with compassion and conviction. They spoke about going the extra mile. They described residents being at the centre of their care and all that they did. They wanted residents to live their best lives in a safe and secure environment. They involved the residents in their care and decisions related to it. I was in a spin! I had never been surrounded by such
positivity in this setting before. What was intended to be a quick 45minute ‘dip-my-toe-in-the-water’ visit turned into a fourhour afternoon visit. Three months into my interim contract I was appointed as the permanent Home Manager, and I couldn’t be happier – this really is my dream job. Working here made such an impression on me from day one that I never wanted to leave. I became a nurse because I care about people and I wanted to make a difference. I’m doing that now. I’m in the company of people that have similar military experiences, and it’s an honour to look after them. And I think the residents appreciate the bond we share too. We have conversations about military life and what we’ve been up to, we speak about the bits and pieces we have done. I have learned so much in that time! I have visited the other Homes and met all of the teams. Royal Star & Garter appears to be a magnet for attracting only the best, most caring staff across all disciplines. All of the Homes have felt familiar even though the geography is different. The energy of the staff is like nectar. It’s addictive and you can’t get enough of surrounding yourself with it. It is the magical and mysterious glue that pulls us all together and makes us all want to perform at our very best. The first six months have been a thrilling and joyous experience: to be in the company of people who are always striving to do what’s best for our residents, it’s a joy to be working with a team that’s so committed. It makes me feel proud, and there is nowhere else that I would rather be. Royal Star & Garter is the place for me, it makes sense to be here.