The care sector can be a wonderful place to work.
I see this all the time. As well as being Faversham and Mid Kent’s MP I’m also a minister in the Health and Social Care Department, and one of the things I’m tasked with is overseeing the government’s work on social care.
As a sector its importance is often overlooked. It’s obviously really important to our wider health system, but actually I think more important than that is the simple fact that it makes millions of people’s lives better every single day. I meet people all the time living happy and fulfilling lives thanks to the skill, kindness and warmth of those caring for them.
It’s one of those rare jobs where you can make a difference every day, and it can also offer really good flexibility - meaning you can fit work around other commitments like childcare.
We need more people to join this fantastic workforce, and right now there’s so many opportunities out there, from front line care work to administrative and office staff.
One of the things that has put people off in the past is a lack of clear career progression in care, like you might get in the NHS for example. But we’re currently working on plans which will change that, transforming care into a career where you can learn new skills and increase how much you can earn.
We’ve set up a website where you can search for jobs and information: www.adultsocialcare.co.uk , and if you’re a constituent and you’ve got any questions I’d be really happy to chat via email at helen.whately.mp@parliament.uk
There has never been a better time to start your journey in care.