Health and social care support worker careers roadshow rolls in next week

A careers roadshow highlighting support worker jobs in the NHS and adult social care is on its way to two venues in Luton and Dunstable town centres next week.

There are over 350 different careers in the NHS and social care, so Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership is taking to the road to match local job vacancies with people who are looking for a new role, whatever their stage of life.

There will be an opportunity to meet representatives from different health and care fields providing care services locally, including Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, East London NHS Foundation Trust, Central Bedfordshire Council, Luton Council.  These experts will provide insights into career pathways, entry requirements, guidance on job applications, and the realities of working in different support worker roles.

The roadshow will visit the following locations on the dates listed:

• Ashton Square, Dunstable, LU6 3SN (10am to 4pm, Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 September);
• St George’s Square, Luton, LU1 2NG (10am to 4pm, Friday 29 September).

More information on the roadshow is available online.

Martha Roberts, chief people officer at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, said:

“Maybe you’ve just left school, college or university, and you’re wondering what to do next.  Alternatively, you might be looking for a career change or to get back into work after taking time off to raise a family.

“Whatever your position, the one thing we can all be certain of is that the NHS and care services will always need nurses, social workers, healthcare assistants, therapists, doctors, pharmacists and people working in non-clinical roles.

“It’s never too early to start thinking about a career in the NHS and care, and there’s something for everyone who has the right values and skills.

“There’s lots more information on working in the NHS at healthcareers.nhs.uk, including a quiz which you can take to find out which sorts of roles you’re most suited to.  If you’d like to find out more about a career in care, there’s a really useful website called aquestionofcare.org.uk, which also lets you check your interests and skills against the types of work you could do.

“There are plenty of ways to get started: apprenticeships, volunteering opportunities and, if you’re thinking of going to university to study for a degree, start doing some research into the qualifications you’ll need.”

Collaboratively designed by local health and care partners, the roadshow will share real stories from current employees, showcasing their dedication and expertise.  It will inspire and inform the next generation of health and care workers about the wide range of roles within the sector.

Visitors will also have the chance to find out about current job openings, apprenticeship opportunities, training choices, and professional growth routes.

If you can’t make it to the events next week, you can call NHS Health Careers on 0345 60 60 655 or email advice@healthcareers.nhs.uk.

You can also find inspiration from the Bedfordshire Health and Care Academy, which was established in 2020 and has already inspired many young minds about the variety of clinical and non-clinical roles on offer, and helping students to make an informed decision about their future career.