Rebuilding lives while rebuilding health and social care

In October 2024, Cera launched a cross-sector Coalition to get Britain Back to Work – creating thousands of jobs in care for the unemployed and economically inactive, and arming recruits with vital tech and digital skills to build the digitally empowered healthcare workforce of the future.

With more than 9 million UK working-age adults currently economically inactive, and with 1 million new workers needed in health and social care by 2040, our scheme offers a route for Britain's "missing workers" to rebuild their lives, whilst simultaneously rebuilding the health and social care workforce.

Our Coalition is already making a big impact: 28% of recent new hires to our frontline workforce were previously unemployed, with more than 16% returning from longer periods of economic inactivity – exceeding a 10% target we set ourselves last October. 

In addition, more than twice the industry average live with a disability, reflecting our commitment to helping people overcome barriers to work.

A cross-sector coalition

Our coalition brings together leading organisations, including Skills for Care, People Plus, Maximus and Beam, as well as Government schemes such as Restart and the Work and Health Programme (WHP). Together, we identify suitable candidates and provide them with the practical and emotional support they need to start in a new career in home healthcare. 

As well as digital skills, we arm recruits with comprehensive support to make coming back to work easier – from mental health and wellbeing support, to menopause care, and help and resources for employees who care for children or elderly relatives. 

We also offer mobility schemes to help people travel for work, offering them subsidised driving lessons, car insurance, or cycling and eBike schemes.

Dr Ben Maruthappu, Founder & CEO of Cera, said: "Tackling economic inactivity and rebuilding our vital health & social care sectors are two of the biggest challenges facing our Government. 

"This innovative coalition is a true sector first, marking a collective commitment to solving these challenges. Not only will we support thousands of economically inactive people into meaningful new careers; we will also equip them with vital tech and digital skills, building the digitally empowered healthcare workforce of the future."

Oonagh Smyth, CEO of Skills for Care, said: "The 131,000 vacancies in social care on any given day are 131,000 opportunities for people to start fulfilling careers in the sector. Cera's important and innovative work supports the ambitions of the Workforce Strategy for adult social care that we launched in July, so we're delighted to partner with them to attract thousands of new recruits out of unemployment and into a career in home healthcare, boosting the economy and contributing to the future of this vital sector."

Mark's story

A double amputee, Mark is thriving as a care worker at Cera after 20 years of unemployment.

Mark was let go from his job in retail 20 years ago when he was no longer able to work due to complications arising from his diabetes. 

He developed infections and ulcers in his feet and legs, which over the course of many years of treatment eventually led to below-the-knee amputations in both legs.

Years spent not working left Mark lacking in confidence, and he felt that employers would not see past his health issues and disability. The longer it went on, the harder it was to imagine how he would get back to work.

That all changed for Mark when Maximus – one of Cera's Back to Work recruitment partners – handed him a leaflet in a shopping centre. Maximus matched Mark with a job coach, who quickly spotted his potential.

His job coach learned that despite his own health issues, Mark had taken on caring responsibilities for his family, looking after his mother-in-law and his father-in-law, who has Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.

Within weeks, Mark had applied for and was offered a job as a care support worker at Cera, delivering personal care for elderly or vulnerable people.

"When I heard I had got the job at Cera," Mark says, "my smile was the width of the room. I was absolutely gobsmacked that a company could look past the disability and say, 'He can still do the job'. It took a huge weight off my shoulders, because out of work you feel useless, like you're no good to anybody."

Mark went on a four-day course to learn how to use bed hoists, before going to shadow carers on home visits. He started working two days a week in February.

"The first few weeks I used to get home and I was absolutely shattered," he says. "But thankfully the staff I was working with understood. They didn't rush me. And then I got used to it. I have never looked back. My life has taken a full turn and it is absolutely brilliant."

Read Mark's story in:

The Metro

The Daily Express

The Daily Telegraph