mcch Recruitment Team, the Care Ambassadors and Employment and Vocational Services hired a joint stand at the Social Care Expo arranged by Kent Messenger on June 18th 2009. Approx 1,000 visitors came to Detling, visiting the 80 stands, a Career Learning Zone and a Professional Zone. A series of lectures were given in the Learning Zone.
The first lecture of the day was that given by mcch’s Michael Duignan-Murphy, Kerry Turner and Stuart Boyle on "Good health is good business – effective solutions for retaining workers".
mcch and KCA are working in partnership to support people experiencing common mental health issues, in order to achieve work/life balance and retain their employment. This talk was attended by a very large audience and ended with a question and answer session.
The stand was manned by the mcch Recruitment Team; Joan, Katy, Lindsay and Karen. Also in attendance on the stands were Kevin Hoare (E&V Dartford), Jim Absolon and Paula Guy, Theresa Snowden, Katie Bell and Lauren Allen all from Compass House, Mandy Emptage (E&V) and John Brately, Adam Dickett and Philip Newell from Tuck by Truck Aylesford came along too. Adam, Phillip and John particularly enjoyed walking around and getting information and collectibles from other stands.
We were fortunate enough to also have our two service user Care Ambassadors, Jenny Millns supported by Mark Perschsky and Lynne Huggett supported by Dee Kirton. Jenny and Lynne did a great job interacting with visitors to the stand by giving them information and providing them with booklets on social care in Kent. Lynne thought the Expo was very good and very enjoyable. Jenny particularly liked our stand and the publicity materials we had promoting mcch.
I feel most human when....
Lynne and Dee directed the public to our interactive robot. The robot promotes positive mental health wellbeing and visitors were invited to complete messages to put on the robot. Visitors had to think of the following “ I feel most human when ………………………………….” Examples of some thoughts below
"When I’m on holiday"
"Being around people who make you laugh"
"Singing"
"When I’m eating, especially cake"
"Looking after others"
We had approx 50 responses to our robot which was good fun and thought provoking.
A new career in care maybe...
Jenny and Mark got involved talking to a number of visitors and one of them has asked if they can volunteer as she was so impressed by Jenny’s account of how mcch supports her and how Mark works with Jenny. Hopefully this will be the start of a new career in care.
All in all mcch had a very busy day and I am sure the professionalism of the staff and the presence of our service users has encouraged many members of the public to visit mcch’s website for further information or to look out for our vacancies in the local press.
Look out for more details concerning Job Fairs and Care Ambassadors in the next few months.