THE perception of social care jobs must change in order to encourage younger people into the profession.

That's the message from a group of care providers in Bournemouth who are urging youngsters to take-up a career in the industry.

The Bournemouth Care Partnership, collaboration between eight leading care providers in the borough, have joined forces with Bournemouth council to promote jobs within the social care sector.

Richard Dolan, provider operation manager, said: “There needs to be a change in perception in social care.

“Care providers are joining forces to look at innovative ways to entice people into the homecare workforce and show it is a potential career path.

He added: “Jobs in social care provide an opportunity for younger people to develop a skill-set to develop into a career in the future.”

Mr Dolan said it is “vital” for the sector to recruit younger workers to tackle the national care recruitment crisis.

He said: “If we haven't got a workforce out there which is capable of meeting the demands of people's needs and delivering the services they require, we are going to have people waiting in hospital for longer before they can go back home.

“Helping people to stay independent in their own homes is vital to the community. We are all going to end up in that situation. We are investing in our own future.”

The providers that have signed up to scheme are Agencies Allied, Healthcare, AQS Homecare, Agincare, Care Dynamics, Care South, Horizon Home Care, Prime Care and Willow Tree. Representatives from the organisations will be attending recruitment fairs and student events to spread their message.

Urging youngsters to consider working in the homecare sector, Mr Dolan added: “It's more than just a job. It's a job in which you can change your life as well as somebody else's.”