The Care Talent Collective – a ground-breaking new approach to talent management in the care sector – has launched in Surrey, offering fast-track career opportunities for people who want to use their talents to transform the lives of people with learning disabilities and autism.
The Care Talent Collective is the first of its kind: a collaboration between seven top Surrey care providers, who between them support nearly 2,000 people with learning disabilities and autistic people in Surrey each year. It offers a choice of fast-track career pathways for talented people of all ages, backgrounds, and experience:
- Fast Track into Management is aimed at people who have the potential to progress into a management role within two years. Candidates will have the opportunity to do six-month rotations at different providers within the Collective, giving them the chance to try out different roles and develop specialisms. All candidates are guaranteed an interview for a service manager role by the end of the two-year programme. They will also gain up to a Level 5 qualification in Health and Social Care, and earn an enhanced salary during their time on the programme.
- Enhanced Apprenticeship gives candidates the best possible start to a career in care, with induction and training led by award-winning trainers and the chance to study towards a Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care.
The Care Talent Collective challenges perceptions that there are a lack of opportunities to develop a career in care. In fact, over 70% of managers within some member organisations of the Care Talent Collective were internally promoted, including several who progressed to manager roles within two years of joining as support workers.
One such example is Hamilton Newman, who said: “This initiative is absolutely fabulous. In school I had no idea about care, but after an unrewarding job in sales a friend suggested I apply for a care role. Never did I think I would find my passion so early. I started as a support worker, made my way up to Assistant Service Manager and am now managing a complex needs service in Horley – all within two years.”
Leanne Yeo, who receives care and support in Surrey, said: “I like support workers who are caring, friendly, helpful and reliable. My support workers have helped me to achieve a lot. I won a gold and bronze medal for cycling in the Special Olympics. I am Chair of the Pro-Active Community [a peer-led charity for people with learning disabilities and autistic people], and I am a paid Expert by Experience. I do quality checks of care services and I help with training.”
Maria Mills, CEO of Active Prospects, who are leading the programme on behalf of the other 6 providers within the Collective, said: “We are delighted to launch the Care Talent Collective. We want to promote and celebrate how brilliant working in care is – whether you are fresh out of college or looking to change careers. The motivation we all get each and every day from working alongside people with learning disabilities and autistic people, is what makes care the best place to work in the world.”
Applications are now being accepted for a start in early 2024: visit www.caretalentcollective.org for further details.
