Jobs boost as borough care villages recruit staff

The dementia specialist used technology to take on new staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

There are 14 new employees at the care village in Atherton and seven at the one in Platt Bridge.

In total Belong has provided more than 100 new roles across its seven care villages, with the new staff including nurses, support workers, housekeepers and hospitality employees. With care villages closed to all but essential visitors because of coronavirus, staff at the not-for-profit organisation went high-tech to aid the recruitment process, carrying out interviews via video calling and accepting identification and DBS documentation via messaging apps.

Mel Saywell, project manager at Belong, said: “The current crisis has really increased people’s awareness of the vital role of care workers in our society.

“When engaging with applicants, the overwhelming response was that people just want to help, it’s very heartening.

“Our trainers have been working creatively to provide on-screen face-to-face training and online learning and ensure inductions enable our new colleagues to be competent and confident to provide excellent care and support for our customers, both in our villages and for those living in their own homes in the community.

“By fulfilling our recruitment needs, we have returned to less reliance on agency staff, with permanent colleagues guaranteeing continuity of care, which is particularly vital at this critical time and when working with those who have dementia.

“We look forward to welcoming new members of the team and helping them realise their career aspirations with us.”

Belong has also reached out to more than 1,000 former colleagues, with a number re-joining the business on a temporary basis to offer support during the health crisis.