It's no secret that the health and social care sector has had a tough few years. After the challenges of the pandemic, the care sector now faces a new one: a shortage of staff. Job vacancies in care across the UK have reached an all-time high, with at least 165,000 as of October.

To combat the number of vacancies in Wiltshire, Wiltshire Care Partnership (WCP) has launched a new online job board to help local people find opportunities near them.

WCP’s CEO, Jo Howes, described care workers as a “silent army” in the community. “They are the backbone of everything,” she says, “and the vacancies are putting more stress on the NHS.”

The sector still suffers from negative misconceptions about what working in care is really like. Many expect zero-hour contracts, gruelling hours and minimum wage, which is not the reality for most care workers.

Instead, you can often agree a shift pattern that works for you, whether full-time or part-time. Most care providers offer permanent contracts with the usual benefits you’d expect from a workplace, such as holiday pay and a pension.

There has never been a better time to join the care sector. There are more opportunities to forge a career in care than ever before, with a range of providers offering training schemes to allow their employees to upskill. The career development opportunities are endless – you can choose a specialism and be supported by your employer to achieve your goals.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of working in care is what you get in return. Not many jobs are as rewarding, with the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives every day. Along with your team, you’ll become part of a close-knit family you can rely on.

There aren’t just roles available in personal care. Care providers are recruiting for a range of job types, ranging from admin and finance to catering and maintenance. Whatever your experience and interests, there’s a role to suit you.

WCP’s new online job board makes it easy to browse and apply for roles available across Wiltshire. You can view the board at wiltshirecarepartnership.org.uk/vacancies