Rytebridge

25/08/2025

Caring for Yourself while searching for a role in care

Searching for a job in adult social care or any other sector can feel emotionally and mentally draining, especially if you are between roles or facing repeated rejection. Whilst social care is a sector built on compassion, care and people skills, the job search process follows similar pattern to other industries. To protect your mental health, it helps to bring structure, perspective and kindness into the process.

Start by building a routine. Give yourself a set time each day to search and apply, and then stop. It can be tempting to keep refreshing job boards late into the evening, but that leads to burnout. Instead, focus your efforts during a few productive hours and then take time to rest or do something enjoyable.

Keep a simple record of progress. This could be a list of jobs applied for, a tally of cover letters written, or notes from interviews. When progress feels slow, these notes are a reminder that you are putting in the work.

Celebrate every step. Sending one application might not feel like much, but it is effort. Getting an interview, even if you do not get the job, is a sign that your approach is working. Each step is part of the journey, not just the end result.

Talk to people who understand. Whether that is fellow job seekers, past colleagues or friends in the sector, talking helps. It reminds you that you are not alone and that others have faced similar challenges and come out the other side.

Importantly, do not measure your worth by the number of responses you get. Social care is about people. It demands empathy, presence and real skills. If a job does not come through, it is not because you are lacking. Sometimes roles are paused, already filled internally or just not the right fit.

Finally, give yourself permission to rest. Job searching is a form of work. If you need a day off, take it. If you feel demotivated, step away and come back when you are ready.

The right role will come, and you deserve to enter it feeling confident, balanced and supported!

22/08/2025

Are cover letters still relevant in Adult social care?

The answer often depends on who is reading them. Some HR directors say they never look at cover letters, while others feel it gives additional information for review and discussion. In a field where empathy, patience, and values are just as important as professional experience, a well-written cover letter can still carry weight.

But many cover letters fall short because they sound too formal, too generic, and often lack real personality, and these days too robotic due to Chat GPT. They do not always give a clear picture of the person applying or the reasons they want the job, there is no personal touch.

If you are going to include a cover letter, it helps to keep it focused and personal. Try to explain why you care about the work, what you understand about the role, and how your past experience makes you a good fit. Speak plainly and directly. You do not need long words or fancy language. You just need to show that you understand what the job involves and why you want to do it.

Ask yourself these questions when writing your cover letter:

- Why does this role matter to me?

- What do I bring that would support the team or service?

- How have I shown compassion or good judgement in past roles?

- What do I know about the service or organisation and why do I want to work there?

Recruitment in adult social care is not just about ticking boxes. HR directors are often looking for someone who understands people, works well under pressure, and fits the values of the service. If your cover letter helps them see that, then it is worth including.

20/08/2025

Making sustainability work in Care homes

Running a care home is expensive, and with rising costs everywhere, sustainability might feel like an added luxury you simply can’t afford. But the truth is, becoming more sustainable doesn’t always require big budgets, solar panels, or fancy tech upgrades.

Small, thoughtful changes can go a long way and save you money.

Some ideas:

Start by cutting food waste. Take a closer look at what’s coming back on plates. If meals are consistently half-eaten, it might be time to adjust portion sizes or involve residents in menu planning. Less waste means lower costs and happier residents.

Think about the paper trail. Switching to digital systems, even for small things like memos, can reduce both clutter and spending. A staff WhatsApp group, for example, is faster, cheaper, and better for the environment than printed notices.

Furniture looking tired? Repurpose it instead of buying new. A fresh coat of paint or new upholstery can give a worn-out chair a second life and keep money in your budget.

Bring residents into the journey. A small herb garden, a composting bin, or even a weekly recycling activity can offer residents a purpose, while contributing to sustainability.

And finally, look at your purchasing habits. Can you buy in bulk? Can you support local suppliers who deliver regularly to cut down on transport emissions? The choices you make add up.

Being sustainable starts with having the right intention. You don’t have to overhaul everything at once. Start small and build momentum.

12/08/2024

Social care is set to be a key issue in the upcoming UK general election. Labour leader Keir Starmer has promised a detailed plan, while the Conservatives remain vague about their intentions.

Regardless of the election outcome, providing adult social care remains a critical challenge. In England, 2.6 million people over 50 currently lack essential care. Devolved governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland spend more per capita on social care than England, where funding cuts have led to fewer care recipients.

Care professionals face low pay, high pressure, and burnout, leading to staffing shortages. Over half of adult social care providers struggle to recruit and retain workers. Poor working conditions and pandemic-related stress contribute to high absence rates.

Political indecision has hindered social care reform. Since 2010, successive Conservative governments have announced plans only to revise or delay them. The 2014 Care Act’s cap on residential care charges has been postponed until October 2025.

Despite numerous policy reviews since the 1990s, no government has effectively addressed the growing need for social care.

Regardless of who takes power, adult social care will be one of their biggest challenges.

Further insights: https://socialcare.blog.gov.uk/2023/09/21/take-the-adult-social-care-workforce-wellbeing-survey/

09/08/2024

Rota management works until they don’t work.

The nature of shift work makes rota management a challenge.

Last-minute staff shortages or crossed communication wires could mean residents are short of staff who can look after them.

Other times, a sudden change in resident needs and circumstances can require adjustments to the rota.

Safe to say rota management is unpredictable.

We exist to fill in any shift gaps that appear in rota management, whether through:

- Providing short-term and last minute cover
- Long-term and recurring shift work
- Same-day shift cover
- Mid-shift cover

➡️ https://rytebridge.com/

Healthcare focused workforce and management solutions provider.

07/08/2024

Six things we ask when vetting candidates (and why)

1. Their UK care experience

↳ They need to have a required period of hands on experience and a valid employer reference for compliance

2. Their location

↳ To assess whether we can offer logistically suitable placements

3. Their pay

↳ Pay transparency from the beginning to reduce no-shows and last minute pull outs

4. Their DBS status

↳ DBS is reviewed every year and costs a refundable £50

5. Job demand

↳ Homes prefer repeat candidates. If the candidate is new we manage expectations. We work to create a pool of regulars.

6. Mandatory Training

↳ All our staff undertake annual mandatory training.

These questions designed to:

- Properly tick-box legal and compliance requirements
- Provide transparency to the candidate
- Manage job expectations (availability, location and pay)

As a result, we recruit and place reliable candidates into placements they’re most qualified for.

05/08/2024

How often does your care home collect staff feedback?

Staff feedback shouldn’t be treated as a tick-box exercise.

Such surveys uncover valuable insights that can be used to make real improvements that retain staff, ensure care continuity for residents and improve overall care delivery.

Here are three ways to collect feedback

1. Anonymous surveys

Staff won’t feel comfortable sharing their actual thoughts unless they are protected by confidentiality. To make real change, staff need a platform to express themselves freely.

1. Have an open door policy

Make staff feel comfortable approaching any senior manager during their shift with concerns or suggestions.

1. Anonymous comment boxes

Surveys may come around once or twice a year. What about the time in between? A comment box allows staff to leave their thoughts anytime, especially when new concerns surface.

Collecting feedback is only half the job.

To inspire confidence and convince even the most cautious staff member to open up, you must transparently communicate and demonstrate what you’ve done with the feedback.

The honest truth is high-quality care staff aren’t in abundance.

So, care homes must do what they can to retain their care team.

02/08/2024

Adult social care turnover is alarmingly high, sitting at 31%.

The average across all employment sectors is 15%.

The question remains: how can care homes retain staff?

The obvious answer is better pay.

But with both public and private sector organisations facing financial constraints, increasing pay is easier said than done.

The other way to tackle the turnover challenge is to make staff feel special through:

- Employee of the Month schemes.
- Regular one-to-one catch ups to understand their feelings and any challenges they face.
- Providing a transparent career growth pathway.
- Regular verbal expressions of gratitude.

Such small initiatives and acts of compassion help keep morale high.

A care staff’s contributions and impact on our communities are immeasurable.

If pay is a challenge, let's start by making them feel listened to and appreciated while creating a positive and uplifting working environment.

31/07/2024

Unfortunately, not every healthcare recruitment agent sees the bigger picture.

Recruitment is seen as a numbers game:

- Sign and onboard as many care staff as possible.
- Deploy the staff to placements.

And they think their responsibility ends there.

We’ve first-hand seen what happens when the process becomes excessively conveyer belted:

- Care staff are sent to faraway placements without prior warning, and they’re unable to commit to such placements.
- Care homes are left severely short-staffed.
- The people who truly suffer? Residents.

Screening care staff isn’t only about verifying their skills and competence.

At Rytebridge, we work with the staff to establish the logistics behind placements to holistically match them with care homes.

29/07/2024

The population of older adults aged 80 and above is rising in the UK.

So, it’s no surprise to see a growing demand for adult social care, as per a report by The Kings Fund.

The only problem?

The workforce is unable to keep up with the demand.

Last year, there were 152,000 unoccupied adult social care vacancies.

The vacancy rate sits at 9%.

For context, the UK average is 3.4%.

The solution to the problem lies in institutional changes that make adult social care a viable and long-term career option.

The sector needs to address the issues of low pay and challenging working environments.

Although international recruitment has been healthy, the problem persists.

In any case, relying on talent from abroad is a band-aid solution.

With growing international competition and the fact that international workers are no longer allowed to bring their dependents to the UK, this country is becoming a less favourable option.

Read the full breakdown by The Kings Funds Saoirse Mallorie: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/about-us/our-people/saoirse-mallorie

26/07/2024

27.3% of staff working in adult social care leave their job, which sits above the national UK average of 18%.

Care homes should focus all efforts on holding onto staff.

Because the costs of retaining staff outweighs the recruitment costs of continually hiring and training new staff.

And residents feel the pinch too.

Resident’s enjoy familiar faces. The consistency of staff helps them feel reassured and gives them a chance to establish rapport and connection with staff.

If a staff member is replaced by someone else, the resident has to build the relationship all over again.

The yoyo of ending and rebuilding connections and trust causes anxiety and nerves.

From all perspectives, the care home is better off retaining staff through competitive pay, a supportive workplace culture and offering career growth opportunities.

At Rytebridge we proactively work with managers and/or rota coordinators to create a pool of regulars when it comes to genuine ad-hoc last minute cancellations or sickness because we know staff continuity is essential from a care home and resident’s perspective.

24/07/2024

One resident falling in a care setting costs the home £62,521 - a sum that could cover the cost of two extra care home staff for one year.

Cost cutting is an essential exercise for care homes. But money can’t be saved by sacrificing care quality.

Private care homes and the UK government need to be creative about cost savings and think long-term.

AI technology has proven useful in nearly every industry and AI’s potential in healthcare is starting to be realised.

U.S based company SafelyYou uses AI-led video technology to detect and prevent falls.

The technology has proven to reduce falls by 40% and fall-related visits to A&E by 80%.

SafelyYou’s cameras use AI to quickly analyse and alert staff of a fall. The camera helps staff review the fall to prevent a similar incident from occurring.

The upfront investment could be deep, yet the long-term savings are promising.

And the most important thing? Residents live in safer conditions.

The outcome is a win-win.

https://www.safely-you.com/safelyyou-respond/

https://therapiesonthames.co.uk/blog/cost-of-falls-to-nhs-and-social-care/