Wigan & Leigh College, Wigan Council and the borough’s Residential Children’s Care providers have teamed up to train a team of caring people to start a new career working in the borough’s Children’s Homes.
Wigan borough is leading on the North West project, funded by the Department for Education, which aims to create a workforce talent pipeline for this vital sector.
As part of the project, the partners have jointly designed the STEP INTO… Residential Children’s Care programme, aimed at people who are passionate about wanting to make a difference to the lives of children and young people in care,
The programme runs for 8-weeks and starts in October. To make access easier, it’s available during the daytime or evening and includes a 4-week work placement and a guaranteed job interview with a Wigan-based Children’s Residential Care Provider.
Alison Rushton, Vice Principal Employment and Skills at the college said:
“We’re so pleased to be working on this incredibly important project. We’re encouraging people of all ages and from all walks of life to apply. You may have no direct experience of working in a job like this, but you’ll bring your own life experience and a passion to make a difference.”
Steve Swinhoe, Service Lead/Responsible Individual for Wigan’s Residential Portfolio added:
“Children and young people across the region need safe and secure homes to thrive with love and care. Nationally we are challenged across not only local authorities but also charitable and private sector employers, to recruit adults into the sector.
“We’re looking for adults that have the right values and passion to make a difference to children and young people. This Step Into… project will allow a look into the sector, provide some strong insights to what life in homes for children look like, and offer a career path starting as a support workers, who could eventually become registered managers or even social workers. Positions are available now both in local authority homes and in the private and charity settings. We can’t wait to meet you.”
Wigan & Leigh College is hosting information and advice events on:
Centre for Advanced Technical Studies, New Market Street, Wigan, WN1 1RP
Thursday 15 August
Tuesday 3 September
Leigh Adult Learning Centre, Walmsley Road, Leigh, WN7 1XL
Wednesday 4 September
TIME: 4.30pm – 7.00pm