Harrogate care home join recruitment campaign as workforce crisis deepens in sector

Four Seasons Health Care, which owns the Granby Rose Care Home in Harrogate, has launched a recruitment campaign with over 300 vacancies across Yorkshire and 4,000 vacancies across the country.

As one of the largest care home operators in the UK, the company is reacting to new data showing the extent of staffing pressures the sector is facing.

Research by Skills for Care found that the number of vacancies in the care sector rose to 11.1% as of August 22, representing a 50,000 drop in filled positions.

The vacancy rate in care homes in Yorkshire and Humber is estimated at 9.4%.

Four Seasons Health Care says it is looking for adventurous and compassionate people to join its team at its care homes across Yorkshire in the following locations:

North Yorkshire: Harrogate.

East Yorkshire: Goole and Hessle.

South Yorkshire: Sheffield.

West Yorkshire: Leeds, Halifax, Huddersfield and Kinsley.

A Four Seasons employee who has worked in the industry firsthand said her advice for someone considering getting a job in a nursing home is to “try.”

“I’ve been working in care for 33 years now,” said Jacky Sheard, who works as a cook at Harrogate Lodge Care Home in Leeds.

“My first role at Four Seasons Health Care was as a Nurse, where I completed my Level 2 and Level 3 Social Nursing.

“I then moved to Harrogate Lodge care home as a chef in search of a career change.

“It’s great to work in a place where you have the opportunity to face new challenges. I enjoyed building new skills.

“My advice to anyone considering working in nursing is to go for it.”

The Care Quality Commission’s latest Workforce Pressures Survey found that 36% of care home providers say that workforce challenges are negatively impacting the level of care they can provide to the older generation.

The NHS Confederation also recently highlighted that 99% of NHS leaders believe there is a workforce crisis in the sector.

Four Seasons Health Care is hiring in all areas of nursing, nursing, home help and catering, offering both full and part-time positions.

No prior knowledge is required for many of the roles offered.

There are innovative training programs that empower employees to take charge of their career path.

Jacky Sheard of Harrogate Lodge Care Home said: “It’s an incredibly rewarding job that can lead to a meaningful and enjoyable career.”

“I really appreciate the company of our team, we can laugh while we work and there is a real family feeling between us.

“We all look out for each other and there’s always someone to cheer you up when you’re feeling down.

“I love talking to residents and hearing how they enjoyed their meals and puddings.

“At the end of the day, I know I’ve done my part to look after them and make sure they’re all well fed.”

In total, Four Seasons Health Care has 120 care homes across the UK providing long-term, short-term, nursing and dementia care for the elderly.