Learn how to attract candidates who share your organisation’s values through inclusive recruitment approaches, targeted outreach, and practical tools to build a diverse adult social care workforce.
Attract candidates who share your values.
Attract focuses on reaching people who share your organisation’s vision, values and commitment to providing high-quality care and support.
A values-based approach helps you look beyond traditional recruitment routes and connect with a wider range of potential candidates — including people who may not have previous care experience but have the right attitudes, behaviours and values.
Taking a broader approach to attraction can help you:
We have more information about targeting different groups of people on our 'Building a diverse and inclusive workforce' page.
How can you attract candidates who share your values?
Understand what makes your organisation unique
Identify what makes your workplace a great place to work. Think about the qualities, behaviours and values shown by your existing staff and how you can communicate these to potential candidates.
Reach a wider range of people
Consider different ways to connect with people who may not have previously considered a career in care, including:
- people changing careers
- people returning to work
- older or retired workers
- people with transferable skills
- people from different communities and backgrounds
- neurodivergent candidates.
Share your values from the start
Make your values visible throughout your recruitment activity, including job adverts, websites, social media, recruitment events, open days and recruitment packs.
Be clear about what you offer as an employer and the difference staff can make in the lives of people who draw on care and support.
Encourage staff referrals
Your existing workforce can be one of your strongest recruitment channels. Encourage staff to recommend people who share your values and understand the role through referral schemes such as .
Resources and templates
These resources can help you review your approach to attracting candidates, identify opportunities to improve and put practical changes in place.
- - access recruitment resources and templates to help promote careers in adult social care.
- - learn how social media can help you reach new audiences and attract people from a range of backgrounds.
- - explore how employee referral approaches can support recruitment and retention by encouraging staff to recommend people they know.
Making values-based recruitment neuro-inclusive
A clear and inclusive recruitment approach helps more people understand your opportunities and demonstrate their strengths.
Consider the following:
- Write job adverts in plain English and avoid unnecessary jargon.
- Clearly explain working hours, pay, responsibilities and expectations.
- Review whether essential criteria are genuinely required or could be learned in the role.
- Include information about reasonable adjustments and encourage candidates to discuss any support they need.
You could include a statement such as:
“We are committed to supporting disabled and neurodivergent applicants. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.”
When reviewing your adverts, ask:
- Is the advert clear and easy to understand?
- Does it explain what the role involves?
- Does it focus on values as well as skills and experience?
- Does it encourage people from different backgrounds to apply?