Engage Care Talent

Hiring the Next Generation of Talent | King's Trust + Salutem Care & Education | Engage Care Talent

Social care has a workforce problem. The experienced talent pool is shrinking and yet thousands of motivated young people are applying for roles and hearing nothing back. Something has to change.In this episode of Engage Care Talent, Chris and Rowan are joined by Kirstie Jones, Chief People Officer at Salutem Care and Education, and Laura Cashman from The King's Trust - two people who've built a genuine partnership to tackle youth unemployment in the sector. They share what's working, what needed adapting, and why the results speak for themselves.What you'll hear:- How Salutem and The King's Trust designed a programme that gets young people job-ready and into roles- Why values matter more than experience, and how to build a hiring process around that- The myth-busting case for giving young people a guaranteed interview- How to handle the manager who says "we need someone experienced" - and win- What wraparound support actually looks like for young people facing mental health challenges- A real example: Chris, 24, from Nottingham - unemployed, uncertain, now thriving in social careAbout the guests:Kirstie Jones is Chief People Officer at Salutem Care and Education, a UK-wide provider supporting around 3,000 staff across 150 sites. She's a passionate advocate for growing talent from within and building career pathways that start on the front line.Laura Cashman leads Health and Social Care at The King's Trust - formerly The Prince's Trust - which has supported over 20,000 young people into health and social care careers since 2019. Their programmes are free to employers and backed by Department of Health funding.Want to work with The King's Trust? Email them here workwithus@kingstrust.org.ukConnect:Kirstie Jones - Salutem Care and Education https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstie-jones-%F0%9F%92%9A-88406727/Laura Cashman - The King's Trust https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-cashman-7b64381b3/Subscribe for more episodes:https://www.engagecaretalent.com/

Stop Overlooking This Talent Pool: Inclusive Recruitment with | Roy Imeson RNIB

In this episode of Engage Care Talent, hosts Chris Le'cand-Harwood and Rowan Marriott sit down with Roy Imeson - RNIB's Visibly Better Employer | Employment Advisor - to discuss one of the UK's most overlooked talent pools - blind and partially sighted workers. Key Topics Covered: 🔍 The shocking reality: 3 out of 4 people with sight loss are unemployed 💼 11,000 skilled workers actively seeking employment across the UK 🚀 How inclusive recruitment can unlock exceptional problem-solvers for your organisation 🐕 The unexpected benefits of hiring visually impaired employees (hello, office guide dogs!) 📋 Simple changes to job descriptions that could transform your talent pipeline 🏢 The Visibly Better Employer Standard - a quality mark revolutionising inclusive recruitment What You'll Learn: - Why common job requirements (like "must have full driver's license") unnecessarily exclude talented candidates - How visually impaired workers often make the best employees due to their adaptability and problem-solving skills - Practical steps organisations can take to create truly inclusive workplaces - The reality of what jobs can and cannot be done by blind or partially sighted people Exciting Announcement: Workshop 21st January 2026 We're not just talking about this - we're doing something. This conversation didn't just make for a great podcast episode. It sparked action. AudienceLink, Rowan's business, is partnering with Roy to host an exclusive workshop on January 21st, 2026, at the Grimaldi Building in King's Cross, London. Why AudienceLink? Because Rowan's day job is finding the right people for the right jobs. He spends his time identifying hidden talent pools and connecting organisations with candidates they didn't know existed. When he discovered that 11,000 skilled, motivated workers were sitting unemployed -simply because organisations don't know how to reach them - he knew AudienceLink had to be part of the solution. Contact Rowan if you want to attend, or know someone who this is perfect for. Connect Rowan and Roy: Rowan Marriott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rowan-marriott-7791068/ Roy Imeson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/royimeson/If this conversation changes how you think about inclusive recruitment, please like, subscribe, and share with your network. Together, we can make meaningful change for thousands of skilled workers who are ready to contribute.

National Lived Experience Awards: Celebrating Real Impact in Healthcare [Raf Hamaizia - Cygnet]

What happens when hundreds of people from across the UK - service users, support workers, nurses, and chief executives - come together to celebrate recovery and lived experience? Something truly special.In this episode, Raf Hamaizia (Group Expert by Experience Lead at Cygnet) tells us about the why and what of the National Lived Experience Awards - an event that's been running for 12 years, celebrating the talent, creativity, and remarkable journeys of people with lived experience in mental health and social care.In this episode:- The story behind the National Lived Experience Awards and why they matter- Rowan's firsthand account of attending the awards (rainbow fashion and all!)- Why recognition is crucial for both service users AND staff- How events like these remind healthcare workers why they do what they do- The emotional performances, inspiring entrepreneurial stories, and powerful moments of connection- Practical ways to bring this spirit of recognition into everyday care settings- The Mark Britten Award and the Cygnet Yellow Book projectKey Moments:- 00:57 - Introduction to the National Lived Experience Awards- 06:44 - Rowan's experience arriving at the awards- 13:23 - The power of recognition and equality in the room- 18:57 - The Cygnet Yellow Book and People's Council- 28:40 - Why investment in innovation matters- 34:06 - The unsung heroes: domestic staff, maintenance, and the whole teamThis conversation is a reminder that healthcare isn't just about care - it's about celebrating progress, recognising talent, and creating moments where everyone feels valued, whether they're receiving support or providing it.Want to know about Raf's story? Watch this episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmzzVN3fVME&t=42sConnect with us:- Engage Care Talent: https://www.engagecaretalent.com/Find out how to get involved with the National Lived Experience Awards https://www.livedexperienceawards.org/Thank you to the sponsors who made the 2024 National Lived Experience Awards possible.If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share with anyone working in healthcare or social care. These stories matter.

The Meeting | Building Engage Care Talent | Documentary Ep.3

Attracting, engaging, and retaining talent in health and social care isn’t easy — but it’s possible when people come together to share knowledge, collaborate, and take action.In Episode 3 of our Engage Care Talent documentary – The Meeting, Chris Le’cand-Harwood and Rowan Marriott sit down in the studio for a focused planning session. They explore the purpose behind Engage Care Talent, why it exists, and how it’s becoming more than a podcast: a genuine community for change.Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:✅ What “solving the care talent crisis one conversation at a time” really means✅ Why engagement is just as important as attraction and retention✅ How real stories and shared experiences can inspire practical change✅ Why this isn’t just a project — it’s a movement built in public📺 Watch Episode 2 – The Run: https://youtu.be/Mh8Kc6iN5SQ🎬 Missed Episode 1? Start here: https://youtu.be/vL2E17lA10Y⏩ Subscribe for what’s next: https://www.engagecaretalent.com/We’re building more than conversations - we’re building a community. Join us.

The Run: Taking Action on the Care Talent Crisis | Ep 2 - Engage Care Talent Documentary |

Attracting and retaining talent in health and social care can feel like a marathon. But with the right mindset, confidence, and the willingness to take steps, it can be done.In Episode 2 of the Engage Care Talent documentary - The Run - Rowan Marriott and Chris Le'cand-Harwood head out for an early morning run to talk about resilience, endurance, and why tackling the care talent crisis starts by taking action - even when it feels difficult. ✨ Watch Episode 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL2E17lA10Y&t=4s✨ Subscribe to catch Episode 3 - The Meeting - where we reveal how we’re planning the future of Engaged Care Talenthttps://www.engagecaretalent.com/🎙 Explore our catalogue of nearly 20 episodes on: • Leadership in health & social care • Innovations transforming healthcare • Employer branding masterclasses • The economy’s impact on talent attraction & retention • Case studies and insights into what engages staff👉 Get access here: https://www.engagecaretalent.com/We’re also launching a true community for people passionate about solving the care talent crisis - early access will open soon for 20 people. Register your interest today https://www.engagecaretalent.com/