Building better care across the whole community

Plus it has also paved the way to breaking down barriers and tackling isolation.

Hartlepool Borough Council has worked with The Link Project – which has a long track record of supporting Hartlepool’s BAME community – to develop and deliver an introductory Health and Social Care course.

Zeba Alam, Director of The Link Project, said: “The course has been extremely successful, with more than a dozen women taking part.

“It has helped those who are very keen on working in the care sector to understand care legislation and safeguarding procedures and also the different roles available in the sector – such as residential and home care - helping them make an informed choice when applying for jobs.

“It has also been of benefit to those who are already in carer roles, looking after family members, further strengthening the quality of care they provide.”

Course member Sabira Iqbal used to work as a live-in care assistant but had to step down from her job after she became pregnant, and is now looking to re-enter the jobs market.

She said: “The course was really good, especially the focus on the different regulations, and it has also really helped build my confidence when applying for jobs.”

Fellow course member Hena Hasna said: “I really enjoyed the course. At the moment I’m a full-time carer for my daughter but later on I hope to find a job in social care. I see this as a first step to doing more courses to build my skills and give me a better chance of a job.”

Following the success of the course, the Council has commissioned The Link Project to work with it to identify and break down any barriers that are preventing a significant proportion of the BAME community from accessing adult social care services, and to tackle social isolation.

The Link Project holds weekly sessions with members of the BAME community on Wednesdays in Community Hub Central in York Road from 1pm to 3pm, where they can talk about and get advice on adult social care and wider general topics too.

Councillor Gary Allen, Chair of the Council’s Adult and Community-Based Services Committee, said: “Part of our adult social care vision is to ensure that high quality advice and support is available to the whole community, to empower individuals to lead their best lives.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with The Link Project to not only support members of the BAME community to help fill the many care sector vacancies but also ensure that all members of the BAME community can confidently access services and feel a valued part of the Hartlepool community.”

For more information about The Link Project, email linkprojecthartlepool@hotmail.com or come along to one of its weekly sessions.

There is a variety of opportunities in adult social care, so you can build the career you want. For a flavour of the roles, visit vimeo.com/adultsocialcarecampaign/videos.

For details of care vacancies in Hartlepool visit www.northeastjobs.org.uk or search for 'care careers' online.