IMPACT implemented evidence with pupils at the University of Birmingham School to challenge young people’s misconceptions.
Where this project came from – what we know about the evidence:
Recruiting men in social care is often difficult, despite there being a need in the sector for this. Between 2023 and 2024, host organisation Paradise Living and IMPACT Facilitator Marlene Kelly sought to find out why recruiting men into social care jobs is difficult and what might encourage more men to join the sector. IMPACT conducted an evidence review which highlighted the range of benefits connected with having more men in social care; that whilst men choose to work in the adult social care sector for a variety of reasons; there are also multiple factors that discourage men from entering the field, creating barriers to their recruitment.
Our Facilitator project in London
To find out more about how to overcome these barriers, Marlene engaged in conversations with both men working in adult social care and those outside the sector, including 18-year-old young men from a sixth form college. These discussions offered valuable insights into the widespread myths and misconceptions, particularly with young men, surrounding careers in adult social care. The conversations also highlighted a general lack of awareness and understanding among young people about the sector as a viable career option – despite there being a variety of opportunity. In response, Marlene created a ‘myth-busting tool’ aimed at challenging these misperceptions head-on. This work led to Marlene and IMPACT’s Embedding Team and Communications Team participating in the WHO CARES WINS Conference (organised by the Hallmark Foundation), where they worked with young people at White Hart Lane to further debunk myths around adult social care careers.
Trying out teaching and learning materials at the University of Birmingham’s school
On the 17th of October, IMPACT’s National Embedding Team members (Laura and Beth), Communications Manager (Izzy) and Project Officer (Obert – who conducted our initial evidence review) attended the University of Birmingham Secondary School to speak to Year 7 and 8 students about careers in adult social care. The school promotes character education, where students explore moral, performance, intellectual, and civic virtues. As part of their focus on civic virtues, the school invites professionals from a range of sectors to share insights into different career paths.
This day was about taking our evidence review and the original Facilitator project in London a stage further, to produce a usable resource for teachers and students, and support IMPACT’s ongoing myth-busting campaign with young people.
You can access the materials via the links below:
It was a fantastic day, with the IMPACT team warmly welcomed by an enthusiastic assembly audience of over 300 people, and classrooms full of enthusiastic teachers and engaged pupils. Students were eager to explore and discuss what working in care involves, we spoke about the variety of job roles and responsibilities to pay levels, leadership opportunities, and career progression within the adult social care sector.
Pupil Reflections
Pupils had the opportunity to reflect on what they learnt and told us:
“It seems interesting but don’t think it’s my kind of job”
“It may be challenging but I could try it out and see if I like it”
One pupil said: “working in care was helping the elderly and blind”, but now they think “it isn’t just about helping the elderly and cleaning for them and it is helping [people] in other ways”
Another pupil said they thought working in care “was boring and not fun”, but now they think “it looks fun.”
As we know from the project, many young people are unaware of what social care involves or the wide range of roles it offers. This session was part of an enrichment curriculum seeking to expose students to different career paths. Whilst some may not want to pursue social care as a career, it still underlines the importance of explaining adult social care’s valuable role in society. Students came away with a stronger sense of the different career paths available in adult social care and some now see it as a fun and rewarding area to work in.
Next Steps
After the success of our conversations with pupils at the University of Birmingham School and with young people at the WHO CARES WINS Conference, we’re now seeking a permanent home for the myth-busting tool and school resources developed from this project. We believe that by placing these materials in a lasting, accessible home, they can serve as valuable resources for teachers and/or professionals working with young people, particularly young men throughout the four nations of the UK. Our aim is to challenge the misconception that adult social care is “women’s work” and not a space for men, because it absolutely is.
If you know of an organisation, platform, or space that could host these resources long-term, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch at: [email protected].