Earlier this year, Virtue Health Services embarked on a mission to hire quality members of staff to care for guests within the new Community Pathways, but also to reduce unemployment throughout Doncaster and surrounding areas.
Working in partnership with Doncaster Council
Reaching out to the local Job Centre and Doncaster Council, the team at Virtue Health Services wanted to not only advertise for staff, but also to screen potential candidates and provide the latest training to those candidates.
Karen Stanley, Head of Commissioning and Development, said: “The college shared information on their funding programme – which enabled us to screen potential candidates for certain job roles, before enrolling them onto the relevant course with Doncaster College.
Screening a group of individuals from the local area with an interest in care, the successful candidates began their Level 2 Care Qualification NVQ. Upon course completion, the candidates will be welcomed to a second interview with Virtue, with the hope to employ them to work with us.”
Moving forwards together
As Virtue’s first service, Ashdale House, officially opened last week, the students on the college course completed their Level 3 Mental Health Awareness Certificate.
One new care worker said: “It’s been a really interesting course. We’ve all learnt so much – transitioning into something new, and now we’re all able to provide care to people who really need our help.
Our tutor has made the course so enjoyable and we’ve had a lot of support from Virtue along the way. I’m really excited about starting this new chapter and helping our future guests live a more independent life.”
As the next home is in development, Virtue will partner again with Doncaster Council to screen potential candidates and provide employment routes within the area.
Karen added: “We really enjoyed working with the local Job Centre and the college to find the right candidates who we felt could help carry forth our vision, and so it only makes sense for us to carry out the process again for our additional services.”
Virtue Health Services equips individuals with the confidence and skills to develop an identity within their community, make their own decisions and live the best version of their life. With a focus on rehabilitation into a more independent life, we still provide the much required care and support. So, even if individuals cannot live without some form of care and support, they are still more independent than they perhaps thought achievable.