PEOPLE with health conditions are to be encouraged into the world of health and social care work at an upcoming networking event.
The free event, run by South Yorkshire Housing Association’s employment team, will take place on Thursday (March 24) at the Library @ the Lightbox.
It’s aimed specifically at health and social care where a ‘severe issue’ has been noted in recruitment and will connect local people with opportunities for work or job-seeking advice.
It will also introduce people to a free programme dubbed ‘Working Win’ for adults who have mental or physical health conditions, who are either unemployed and looking for work, or employed and seeking support to stay in work.
The programme includes CV and job application help, support with health conditions, and debt and benefits advice.
Mike Killeen, employment specialist with South Yorkshire Housing Association, said: “We run a number of local employment programs aimed at supporting people with mental or physical health conditions into employment and to then help them sustain that employment.
“We have also recently launched a further project aimed at the long term unemployed in South Yorkshire.
“We work in partnership with many community groups, charities, Barnsley Council and NHS mental health services, they have made us aware that there is a severe issue when recruiting and this is putting significant pressure on their service delivery, this is most apparent in adult social care.
“We have also recognised that many of our clients have aspirations to work in this sector so bringing these two groups together seems an ideal opportunity.
“We will also be opening the event up to the wider Barnsley community in partnership with community groups, Job Centre Plus and our other partners.
“Finally we are using this event to promote all our employment services available in Barnsley to those that require support, this has always been our core aim and is especially relevant following the pandemic."
Places on the Working Win scheme are limited and referrals will close on 31st May 2022.
Find out more at www.southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk/Explore_Working-Win.
