Around 44 people in Ramsgate have attended a social care jobs fair as part of a drive by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to boost hiring for the sector ahead of the winter season.

The event at Queens House brought together nine employers to offer roles in the sector as efforts step up to increase capacity in social care and support the NHS ahead of the colder months.

Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman MP said: “From care assistants to support workers, there are vacancies across the country with a variety of employers, including in Ramsgate that could help people take their first step on the career ladder.

“Social care is one of our top priority sectors and I encourage any employers struggling with recruitment to reach out to their local Jobcentre where they can benefit from sector-specific support, like this job fair.”

The drive follows an announcement by the Department of Health and Social Care of an additional £40 million investment available for local authorities to bolster their social care provision – including increasing capacity and discharge rates – over the winter months.

Companies Care Tech and Austen Care Home were both hiring on the day and a variety of roles were on offer at the Jobcentre, including for care assistants.

Anthony March, Employer Adviser at Ramsgate Jobcentre said: “Ramsgate jobs fair has given people the opportunity to meet with some of the region’s biggest social care businesses face-to-face.

“It’s crucial that people of all ages and backgrounds have the chance to progress and we want people to know our local Jobcentre teams is on hand to support them on their work journey.”

There are 9,000 vacancies countrywide in social care on the Government’s Find a Job portal.