Rural Recruitment Initiative

The Mid Wales Social Care Partnership is undertaking a recruitment initiative aimed at the farming and rural community of Mid Wales.

The past ten years have seen a significant fall in farming incomes and although the trend is now more positive, there are still significant variations in the income from different types of enterprise.

The recent delays in payment of grants/subsidies have increased the difficulty of making ends meet for many rural families. It is not surprising therefore that farming families are seeking additional income sources, either from employment outside the agricultural sector or through new business diversification opportunities.

The Health & Social Care Sector is an expanding sector of the Welsh economy generating more than 4% of Wales' GPD and featuring in the top 10 of the Welsh Assembly Government's priority service areas. The sector currently employs over 70,000 people, some 5% of the total Welsh workforce. Over 150,000 people in Wales are currently in receipt of social care support and service demand in Mid Wales is forecasted to increase because of the needs of an increasingly aged population. The number of people aged 75 and over is projected to rise by 64.8% by 2023 in Mid Wales - a much higher percentage than in other regions of Wales, whilst mortality rates are forecasted to reduce dramatically for both sexes.

What makes social care an exciting opportunity for farming/rural families?

• Flexible Working Arrangements
• Valued work in your own community
• Traditionally farming families have been involved with their local community organisations, appreciating cultural values and relationships.
• Opportunities to work independently or as part of a team.
• Many service users would prefer a Welsh speaker to support them
• An expanding market in which to diversify using existing farm resources.