Career College Consortium

The Career College Consortium is a unique holistic approach that supports the development, qualification and recruitment of health and social care workers across the Gwent region.

The consortium has developed a new structure of collaboration between Coleg Gwent, Aneurin University Health Board, the five local authorities and the University of South Wales. The consortium looks to develop and strengthen relevant work placements and experiential learning for health and social care students.

The consortium’s three aims are:

1. To help introduce a new source of staffing already engaged with the sector, supplying a sustainable pipeline of talent to local authorities, hospitals, and local care providers.
2. To support the principles of the Foundational Economy through the development of skills and talents within local communities while meeting the vision of Health Education and Improvement Wales’ and Social Care Wales’ joint workforce strategy.
3. To ensure that Care has ‘currency’ and value in the region to a broad range of people who may be seeking to enter or progress within the Health and Social Care workforce.

This innovative, co-produced approach to solving the recruitment crisis currently facing health and social care was recently awarded Bevan Commission Exemplar status for 2020. We have also been made a Social Care Wales Accolades finalist. In October 2019 we won a Valued Partner, silver award from Careers Wales for our engagement with secondary school pupils across the region.

The Gwent Career College Consortium brings together key partners to provide greater engagement, support and work opportunities for local health and social care students. Helping to develop the skills and talents within local communities and meet future workforce demands.

The consortium has recently developed a framework to support local students take part in social care work placements with the five local authorities across Gwent.

Emily is currently studying Health and Social Care level 3 at Coleg Gwent, Crosskeys. After completing a placement in a children’s setting Emily wanted to gain experience of working with adults. Caerphilly County Borough Council offered Emily a placement with Ty Iscoed Residential Home. Emily shared her experience of the placement with us:

“I wanted to study health and social care because I’ve always enjoyed helping people and I wanted to make a difference to people’s lives.”

“I was able to get involved with all sorts of activities at Ty Iscoed, and I was always buddied with an experienced member of staff. The whole team were very friendly and took the time to explain what they were doing and why, to make sure that I understood everything I needed to.”

“My favourite part was chatting to the residents, it was interesting talking to them about their lives, and I think this has helped me improve my communication skills. I would recommend a work placement in social care to other students, this placement has really given me a better understanding of what it’s like to work in the sector.”

Caroline Davies, Manager for Ty Iscoed Residential Home in Caerphilly explained how Emily’s time in the home was received:

“The team and the residents really enjoyed having Emily with us. Emily was encouraged to spend time with the residents, get to know them and talk to them about their interests. The residents responded well to Emily and were sad to see her go once she had completed her placement hours.”

“It’s essential that students are able to get the practical work experience needed to complete their studies and make more informed decisions about their future career options. We look forward to welcoming other health and social care students here in the new academic year.”