We have developed a five-year Workforce Strategy around three priorities identified in partnership with the care sector.
You can read more about the three priorities on this page.
Being valued
Staff being valued and developing a career.
The Blue Light Card is a discount service for people working in the NHS, emergency services, social care sector and armed forces. It provides members with discounts online and on the high street.
The card usually costs £4.99 for two years. We have funding to offer staff the card for free. Providers need to register and purchase the cards for staff, then invoice the Council to reclaim the money.
Please read this leaflet for more details about the Solihull scheme. You can also use this poster or flyer to promote the scheme to staff.
Offers, support and discounts are available to care workers. These include childcare support such as the Holiday Activities and Food programme, financial and work support.
Solihull Care Association is part of the West Midlands Care Association (WMCA), created to support care providers in Solihull. Solihull Council supports the first year’s membership for care providers eligible for Infection Control Funding.
Visit the Solihull Care Association and provide them with your details.
Recruitment support
Care providers recruiting, supporting and developing their people.
Many providers recruit social care staff via employee referral schemes, which can be a great way to find high quality and like-minded staff. To help you keep track of employee referrals, and any payments which need to be made to employees, we have created this Excel spreadsheet.
It includes the capability to have different rates for employee referrals to different roles. Guidance notes are in the spreadsheet. If you have any feedback about the spreadsheet please contact mark.taylor@solihull.gov.uk.
Joining the WMCA offers:
- a DBS checking service
- access to a Workforce Development Fund
- a range of training courses and workshops
Solihull Jobmatch can help find the best matches for care job vacancies.
If you are a member of the Solihull Care Association, you can post vacancies for free.
Staff mental health and wellbeing hubs provide health and social care colleagues with quick access to mental health services and support where needed. It is confidential and free for all health and social care staff. Read more about the Birmingham and Solihull Staff Mental Health Hub.
Everyone who works in a paid carer or health care role can access a vaccine for COVID and flu this winter across Birmingham and Solihull with accessible opening times for everyone. The national website provides access and booking details.
If staff are worried about how the cost of living is affecting their home or work life, access all or any of the free, confidential services in this poster.
More information about support for staff is also available on the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System website.
Transport
Ensuring staff can travel easily to deliver care.
There is discount bus travel for all social care workers across the West Midlands.
Buy tickets from the National Express
If you need help, a guide to buying tickets is available.
Electric cars can be cheaper to lease as pool vehicles for care providers than petrol ones. Providers have noted a decrease in average monthly travel expenses which can cover the monthly cost of the car lease. With homecare providers, fewer cars are needed as a driver can drop off several staff.
E-bikes and e-mopeds allow care staff to attend calls whilst being a green way to travel that improve mental and physical health. We are piloting use of these with care providers as a quick, efficient alternative to the car.
E-bikes are small electric cargo bikes which can carry equipment without being large and cumbersome to move. They can be ridden like an ordinary push bike with assistance from a battery to arrive at your destination on time and not exhausted. With an e-bike you have:
- no licence
- no MOT
- no road tax
- no motor vehicle insurance
- no parking charges
Solihull Council’s cycling team provide a range of courses to suit the rider’s ability.
E-mopeds are fully electric vehicles roughly equivalent to a 50cc moped with a maximum speed of 30mph and a range of up to 91 miles. The bike features a load carrying area at the rear which can be fitted with a range of boxes to carry kit securely.
Users must be insured and hold a suitable driving licence, although no road tax is required. The minimum required is a UK valid provisional licence and riders must have passed Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) to ride on the roads. Training is available from providers in the pilot scheme.
Find out more about electric cars, e-mopeds and e-bikes at the Your Future Solihull section of our website.