A new initiative in Lincolnshire seeks to alleviate the ongoing shortage of care workers by launching the Home Care Cadets program. Walnut Care tailored this program specifically for 17- and 18-year-olds. It gives them meaningful skills training and work experience that makes a difference over the summer holidays. As the care sector deals with a recruitment crisis, this program is designed to introduce the next generation to a career as a carer.
As one 17-year-old aspiring care worker named Rachel put it, “I think everyone deserves care.” She highlighted her interest in the care sector, stating, “I think the care sector is really interesting careers wise. It’s definitely one of the careers I’m looking at.” Her excitement is indicative of a larger issue, because many young people don’t know what’s possible in the field.
Melanie Weatherley, chief executive of Walnut Care, knew recruiting local talent would be an uphill battle. As the chair of the Lincolnshire Care Association, she knows the issue well. Unfortunately, for all of their efforts, she said that “no matter how much we tried,” they still haven’t been able to hire. This shortage of staff has resulted in increasingly longer waiting lists for individuals needing care. This perfect storm of circumstances makes for dire and dangerous statewide conditions that necessitate immediate action.
Recent figures from charity Skills for Care indicate the adult care sector is currently experiencing a vacancy rate of 6.5%. This information has been made available as of June 2025. This staggering statistic underscores the urgent need for workforce development programs such as the Home Care Cadets program. Weatherley emphasized the urgent imperative to bring new talent into the industry. He emphasized that people of color tend to miss out on high-demand care jobs.
Alice Weatherley, learning and development lead at Walnut Care discussed her ambitions for the programme. She thinks it will drastically address the recruitment challenges facing the industry. By giving young people hands-on experience and training, the initiative hopes to inspire them to seek long-term, fulfilling careers in care.
Abubakar Zainab, an 18-year-old participant in the program, shared her story about what drew her to the program. He stated, “I want to take care of people in need, and this is the best opportunity to gain work experience for that role.” His sentiments express just a fraction of a burgeoning understanding among young people about the value of care work and how it shapes all our lives and livelihoods.
