If you asked a social care professional or employer in the children’s homes sector about staffing challenges, it’s likely to open quite a debate, as we recently discovered.

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As our in-depth research, available in Charles Hunter Associates’ 2024 Salary and Workforce Insights: Children’s Homes report has shown, the children’s homes sector would greatly benefit from sensibly-applied changes to improve talent attraction and employment conditions. Whilst these changes are effectively a long-term project for many employers in the sector, they can be made more efficiently with a trusted recruitment partner working alongside organisations and job seekers.

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Here are several real-world reasons why working with a recruitment agency to find children’s home jobs or hire for your children’s home teams is better than going it alone.

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True Expertise in Children’s Homes Environments

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Unlike generalist agencies, recruitment agencies specialising in the children's homes sector have a deep understanding of the specific requirements, challenges and compliance frameworks that govern this field.

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The candidates they engage with are well-suited not only in terms of qualifications but also in understanding the sensitive nature of working with children and families. We can effectively identify candidates with specialist social care experience, such as those with backgrounds in fostering or working with vulnerable children, which might be difficult for hiring managers to source independently.

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Interestingly, our research found two-thirds of employees in the sectors were directly approached and found their positions through social care recruitment agencies (like us), or through word of mouth.

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These statistics emphasise why it’s crucial that employers partner with social care recruitment agencies who understand the sector's nuances and have a strong track record in safety and compliance.

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Fairer Pay and Salaries

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Offering competitive pay rates and salaries is key to attracting and retaining your best talent, especially in the children’s home sector where retaining employees can be difficult.

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As shown in our report, our internal salary data indicates that 77% of organisations report average salaries that are now below the minimum wage that was introduced in April.

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In our work with employers, we’ve helped harmonise pay rates that are backed up by data, enabling children’s homes to attract more candidates for a variety of positions.

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A Bridge Between Job Seekers and Employers

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Clarifying Expectations

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Several of our survey respondents cited poor work-life balance as a reason for leaving the industry. We understand this is linked to factors such as how long employees spend time commuting to work, and the hours spent at work. For 42% of social care professionals, the location of a role is an important consideration. With this knowledge, we’re able to serve as a critical bridge between job seekers and hiring managers, ensuring that the needs of both are met.

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For candidates, this means finding children’s home jobs that align with their personal circumstances and work-life balance needs. For employers, it means gaining access to a pool of qualified candidates who are not only skilled but also the right long-term fit for the organisation’s culture.

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Maintaining Communication

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Employers often find it difficult to maintain communication with candidates for their open roles, as they’re juggling competing priorities with limited resources. As a trusted social care recruitment agency, we’ve enabled organisations to prioritise jobseeker communication and engagement. With regular check-ins for both job applicants and hiring managers, we ensure everyone is on the same page and understands what’s next in the process – vital for peace of mind!

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Providing Exclusive Job Opportunities

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Agencies often have exclusive access to job openings, giving candidates an advantage in finding roles that may not be publicly advertised. This proves especially valuable in niche sectors like children's homes.

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We have developed strong relationships with many employers that have enabled us to engage with job seekers for exclusive roles, providing an overall better recruitment experience and more rewarding positions for social care professionals.

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Ongoing Support

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Our work doesn’t just stop once a candidate is hired. We provide ongoing support, with regular check-ins and assisting with onboarding to ensure that both the employer and the candidate are satisfied with the placement.

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For a new hire, those first few weeks are a critical time for addressing any concerns or questions they might have and providing guidance to help them settle into their new roles. By keeping close to new hires, we give reassurance to candidates whilst ensuring they’re able to contribute in their role from day one.

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Overcoming Key Recruitment Challenges

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In situations where a role’s location is a significant hurdle (especially in rural areas), we’ve helped employers overcome this challenge with targeted strategies to attract candidates.

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This has involved tapping into our extensive talent network in the UK to identify candidates who are open to relocation or commuting longer distances.

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We’ve also worked closely with employers to help them develop flexible working arrangements, to make their positions more appealing to candidates – with positive results!

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For many candidates, career progression is crucial in deciding whether to accept a role, which can sometimes be a challenge in recruitment for children’s homes – an observation echoed in our survey findings.

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In some cases, small team sizes can limit advancement opportunities, making it harder to attract the right social care talent. That’s why we’ve collaborated with our clients to create professional development plans, offering candidates the incentives they need to join the team.

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Access Career or Hiring Support from a Leading Social Care Recruitment Agency

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To explore our findings about pay and hiring trends in the children’s home sector in more detail, access and download the report here.

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At Charles Hunter Associates, a social care recruitment agency established in 2009, we’ve supported over 50,000 professionals with finding roles in Children’s Homes and other social care specialisations in the UK.

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So far, we’ve provided essential staffing and training support to more than 100 children’s homes. Contact us today to find your next role in a children’s home or to find vetted and qualified staff who are dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable children.

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