Show launched in bid to tackle staffing crisis

A JOB events company is attempting to ‘plug the gap and provide a solution to the NHS and social care staffing crisis in the south of England by staging the UK’s first show dedicated to recruitment in the healthcare sector.

Hosted by Milton Keynes-based Jobshows, Health & Social Care Jobs healthcare and we’ve already had a number of NHS Trusts and care home providers sign up as they are so desperate to recruit staff.

Live is taking place at the Westfield Shopping Centre in White City, London in June in a bid to help reduce the unprecedented staff shortages in both sectors.

For over a decade, Jobshows has hosted ‘regional’ recruitment exhibitions, heavily frequented by many public sector employers including NHS Trusts, the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, councils, colleges, universities and even the British Army.

“We have an 83 per cent re-booking rate at our regional recruitment shows so we’re expecting this new show to be really successful.

“Westfield W12 is considered the UK’s most prestigious shopping destination and has a natural footfall of around 250,000 every Friday and Saturday. By taking the show to the main hub of a busy shopping centre, we take our NHS Trusts into the heart of the people, making it even more accessible for job seekers.

Centuries of birthdays have been celebrated at a County Durham care home as several residents marked their milestones recently. A Mardi Gras party was held at Pelton Grange Care Home near Chester-le-Street, to commemorate almost 450 years of birthdays among five residents. Ann “Nancy” Jones turned 101, Norma Wright was 86 , Lucy Harrison was 86, William “Bill” Knox was 74 and Muriel Elliot was 94. They were joined by their fellow residents for a New Orleans carnival-like celebration, which saw everyone donning feather boas and masks, listening to traditional Mardi Gras music, singing karaoke and enjoying a buffet with lots of cakes and candles.

Simeon Jackson, event organiser at Health & Social Care Jobs Live, said the new show has been set up to serve health and social care exclusively in response to a growing number of requests from NHS Trusts and social care providers,

He added: “The NHS is an amazing institution but it’s well documented that it is vastly under resourced with staff vacancies at a five-year high so upon speaking to lots of trusts it was clear that they were crying out for a solution to promote in-house recruitment.

“Health and Social Care Live is our first to be totally dedicated to

“Rather than having to buy a ticket and get yourself to Excel London or London Olympia, holding the event at Westfield removes all geographical barriers. We will also have 15,000 pre-registered candidates who will be ready for interview with CV or certificates in hand.”

NHS Trusts from London, Berkshire, Essex, Bucks, Coventry and Warwickshire, Surrey and Avon are among the organisational units to have signed up to Health & Social Care Live so far.

Simeon added: “The show will give NHS Trusts and social care providers the chance to stand out offline, meet thousands of jobseekers face-toface, create a talent pool, network and share ideas with other health organisations and even interview prescreened candidates immediately and hire them directly.”

Inspectors praise ‘Good’ scheme

THE team at Housing 21’s Cedar Court was praised following a Care Quality Commission inspection at the extra care scheme in Lewisham.

Inspectors visited Cedar Court in January and recorded an overall grading of ‘Good’.

independent and to live the way they chose.”

Housing and care manager at Cedar Court, Ugo Ezeanozie, said: “We are thrilled with the services we provide here at Cedar Court, and our recent CQC rating reflects this.

A resident at an Ellesmere Port care home has celebrated her 100th birthday. Hilda Ridgway marked the special occasion at Whitby House with a party surrounded by her family, residents, and staff. Hilda was born in 1923 in Ellesmere Port. After leaving school she worked in a variety of roles and retired aged 85 in 2008 after working as a cleaner for the local authority. She was married to Dennis for more than 50 years during which she had two daughters, Denise and Alison. Her wider family includes three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Hilda continued an active post-retirement lifestyle with daily cycling and swimming sessions, as well as frequent games of bingo.

The inspection report commended the team at Cedar Court for recognising and celebrating religious and cultural events, such as Diwali and Black History Month

The provision of care provided was also praised, stating that: “People were encouraged to take part in things they wanted to do, to be

“The team here take pride in ensuring that our residents are happy, and they are well looked after. Cedar Court is a fantastic scheme, our employees love working here, and it is a wonderful place for our residents to call their home.

“We are all happy with the latest CQC rating.”