Engage Care Talent

Engage Care Talent

Welcome to the podcast that tackles the care talent crisis one conversation at a time. Listen to leaders, managers and specialists about how to attract and retain care talent. There simply isn't enough care talent to serve the health of the nation. Finding the best ways to attract and engage care talent is a big part of the solution. The answers come from all levels and corners of the care sector. That's what Engage Care Talent is all about. We're a podcast that brings the very best opinions, stories and advice to leaders, managers and specialists. We share opinions and experiences

  1. Hiring the Next Generation of Talent | King's Trust + Salutem Care & Education | Engage Care Talent

    Apr 13

    Hiring the Next Generation of Talent | King's Trust + Salutem Care & Education | Engage Care Talent

    Social care has a workforce problem. The experienced talent pool is shrinking and yet thousands of motivated young people are applying for roles and hearing nothing back. Something has to change.In this episode of Engage Care Talent, Chris and Rowan are joined by Kirstie Jones, Chief People Officer at Salutem Care and Education, and Laura Cashman from The King's Trust - two people who've built a genuine partnership to tackle youth unemployment in the sector. They share what's working, what needed adapting, and why the results speak for themselves.What you'll hear:- How Salutem and The King's Trust designed a programme that gets young people job-ready and into roles- Why values matter more than experience, and how to build a hiring process around that- The myth-busting case for giving young people a guaranteed interview- How to handle the manager who says "we need someone experienced" - and win- What wraparound support actually looks like for young people facing mental health challenges- A real example: Chris, 24, from Nottingham - unemployed, uncertain, now thriving in social careAbout the guests:Kirstie Jones is Chief People Officer at Salutem Care and Education, a UK-wide provider supporting around 3,000 staff across 150 sites. She's a passionate advocate for growing talent from within and building career pathways that start on the front line.Laura Cashman leads Health and Social Care at The King's Trust - formerly The Prince's Trust - which has supported over 20,000 young people into health and social care careers since 2019. Their programmes are free to employers and backed by Department of Health funding.Want to work with The King's Trust? Email them here workwithus@kingstrust.org.ukConnect:Kirstie Jones - Salutem Care and Education https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstie-jones-%F0%9F%92%9A-88406727/Laura Cashman - The King's Trust https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-cashman-7b64381b3/Subscribe for more episodes:https://www.engagecaretalent.com/

    47 min
  2. Stop Overlooking This Talent Pool: Inclusive Recruitment with | Roy Imeson RNIB

    Jan 13

    Stop Overlooking This Talent Pool: Inclusive Recruitment with | Roy Imeson RNIB

    In this episode of Engage Care Talent, hosts Chris Le'cand-Harwood and Rowan Marriott sit down with Roy Imeson - RNIB's Visibly Better Employer | Employment Advisor - to discuss one of the UK's most overlooked talent pools - blind and partially sighted workers. Key Topics Covered: 🔍 The shocking reality: 3 out of 4 people with sight loss are unemployed 💼 11,000 skilled workers actively seeking employment across the UK 🚀 How inclusive recruitment can unlock exceptional problem-solvers for your organisation 🐕 The unexpected benefits of hiring visually impaired employees (hello, office guide dogs!) 📋 Simple changes to job descriptions that could transform your talent pipeline 🏢 The Visibly Better Employer Standard - a quality mark revolutionising inclusive recruitment What You'll Learn: - Why common job requirements (like "must have full driver's license") unnecessarily exclude talented candidates - How visually impaired workers often make the best employees due to their adaptability and problem-solving skills - Practical steps organisations can take to create truly inclusive workplaces - The reality of what jobs can and cannot be done by blind or partially sighted people Exciting Announcement: Workshop 21st January 2026 We're not just talking about this - we're doing something. This conversation didn't just make for a great podcast episode. It sparked action. AudienceLink, Rowan's business, is partnering with Roy to host an exclusive workshop on January 21st, 2026, at the Grimaldi Building in King's Cross, London. Why AudienceLink? Because Rowan's day job is finding the right people for the right jobs. He spends his time identifying hidden talent pools and connecting organisations with candidates they didn't know existed. When he discovered that 11,000 skilled, motivated workers were sitting unemployed -simply because organisations don't know how to reach them - he knew AudienceLink had to be part of the solution. Contact Rowan if you want to attend, or know someone who this is perfect for. Connect Rowan and Roy: Rowan Marriott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rowan-marriott-7791068/ Roy Imeson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/royimeson/If this conversation changes how you think about inclusive recruitment, please like, subscribe, and share with your network. Together, we can make meaningful change for thousands of skilled workers who are ready to contribute.

    23 min
  3. National Lived Experience Awards: Celebrating Real Impact in Healthcare [Raf Hamaizia - Cygnet]

    12/16/2025

    National Lived Experience Awards: Celebrating Real Impact in Healthcare [Raf Hamaizia - Cygnet]

    What happens when hundreds of people from across the UK - service users, support workers, nurses, and chief executives - come together to celebrate recovery and lived experience? Something truly special.In this episode, Raf Hamaizia (Group Expert by Experience Lead at Cygnet) tells us about the why and what of the National Lived Experience Awards - an event that's been running for 12 years, celebrating the talent, creativity, and remarkable journeys of people with lived experience in mental health and social care.In this episode:- The story behind the National Lived Experience Awards and why they matter- Rowan's firsthand account of attending the awards (rainbow fashion and all!)- Why recognition is crucial for both service users AND staff- How events like these remind healthcare workers why they do what they do- The emotional performances, inspiring entrepreneurial stories, and powerful moments of connection- Practical ways to bring this spirit of recognition into everyday care settings- The Mark Britten Award and the Cygnet Yellow Book projectKey Moments:- 00:57 - Introduction to the National Lived Experience Awards- 06:44 - Rowan's experience arriving at the awards- 13:23 - The power of recognition and equality in the room- 18:57 - The Cygnet Yellow Book and People's Council- 28:40 - Why investment in innovation matters- 34:06 - The unsung heroes: domestic staff, maintenance, and the whole teamThis conversation is a reminder that healthcare isn't just about care - it's about celebrating progress, recognising talent, and creating moments where everyone feels valued, whether they're receiving support or providing it.Want to know about Raf's story? Watch this episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmzzVN3fVME&t=42sConnect with us:- Engage Care Talent: https://www.engagecaretalent.com/Find out how to get involved with the National Lived Experience Awards https://www.livedexperienceawards.org/Thank you to the sponsors who made the 2024 National Lived Experience Awards possible.If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share with anyone working in healthcare or social care. These stories matter.

    38 min
  4. The Real Impact of Smart Workforce Management: Cygnet x Temployer Case Study | Engage Care Talent

    08/12/2025

    The Real Impact of Smart Workforce Management: Cygnet x Temployer Case Study | Engage Care Talent

    Ready to implement new workforce technology but worried about getting it right? We dive deep into the topic in part 2 of our 2-part series with Temployer - the flexible workforce management platform. It’s another great episode on Engage Care Talent - we’re solving the care talent crisis one conversation at a time. Hosts Chris Le’cand-Harwood and Rowan Marriott sit down with Mark Hily, from Cygnet, and Ben Benhafsi, from Temployer. Marc and Ben have worked closely for the last few years to roll out flexible workforce management technology at Cygnet. And it’s made a massive impact on the way they manage their flexible workforce. This isn’t just another tech conversation – it’s a masterclass in change management. Our guests reveal the exact steps they took to transform busy teams into engaged adopters, sharing real insights on overcoming implementation challenges and driving behavioural change. This saved Cygnet millions of pounds, but more importantly, it’s ensures quality care while making flexible workforce management more streamlined. What You’ll Learn • Proven strategies for getting staff engaged with new technology • Step-by-step change management approaches that actually work • How to overcome resistance and build buy-in across your organisation • Common implementation pitfalls and how to avoid them • The psychology behind successful technology adoption • Practical tips for managing behavioural change in the workplace Whether you’re planning your first workforce management system rollout or looking to improve adoption of existing tools, Mark and Ben’s hard-won experience will save you months of trial and error. Guests: Mark Hily (Cygnet) & Ben Benhafsi (Temployer) https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-hily-23a1b465 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-benhafsi-13b04932/ Hosts: Chris Le’cand-Harwood & Rowan Marriott https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislch/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rowan-marriott-7791068/ Don’t let poor implementation waste your technology investment – watch now for actionable advice and a real view into what it takes to make something happen. Subscribe to the Engage Care Talent Newsletter: https://www.engagecaretalent.com/

    52 min
  5. Tackling Healthcare's Talent Crisis | Engage Care Talent Documentary Ep1

    07/23/2025

    Tackling Healthcare's Talent Crisis | Engage Care Talent Documentary Ep1

    Go behind the scenes with founders Chris Le'cand-Harwood and Rowan Marriott as they spend time together recording the Engage Care Talent documentary. Over dinner, they share the why and what behind the mission of the Engage Care Talent - the place talk and learn about attracting, engaging and retaining talent in health and social care.🎬 This is Episode 1 of our 3-part documentary seriesSubscribe at www.engagecaretalent.com to access all episodes and exclusive conversations with our guests.Over dinner, we explore:✅ The personal motivations driving two founders to tackle healthcare's talent crisis✅ Why now is the crucial time to address healthcare talent challenges✅ How community building can transform talent acquisition and retention✅ What makes Engage Care Talent different✅ The vision for creating lasting change in health and social care✅ Building bridges between C-suite executives and frontline recruitersThis isn't your typical business meeting - it's an candid conversation between two founders who believe they can make a real difference. We're tackling the care talent crisis one conversation at a time, and this behind-the-scenes look shows you exactly how and why we're doing it.Whether you're a Chief Executive, HR Director, Talent Acquisition specialist, or anyone involved in healthcare staffing, this community is for you.About Engage Care TalentWe're building a community who are passionate about attracting and retaining talent in health and social care. To learn, share and support each other.Our mission is to create lasting change in how the healthcare sector approaches talent challenges.🔔 Subscribe at www.engagecaretalent.com for Episodes 2 & 3 of this documentary series💬 Share your thoughts in the comments🤝 Join our community of healthcare talent professionals#HealthcareTalent #NHS #TalentAcquisition #HealthcareRecruitment #CommunityBuilding #DocumentaryPodcast

    11 min
  6. How Tech Solutions Are Revolutionising Healthcare Workforce Management | Temployer

    07/20/2025

    How Tech Solutions Are Revolutionising Healthcare Workforce Management | Temployer

    Healthcare organisations are struggling with staffing complexities and skyrocketing agency costs. In this episode of Engage Care Talent, we dive deep into how innovative tech solutions are transforming workforce management in healthcare. It was great to get Ben Benhafsi from Temployer into the studio to chat about creating sustainable, flexible, and cost-effective staffing solutions that maintain high standards of patient care. Rowan Marriott [Co-Founder of Engage Care Talent] gets some unique insights into the world of workforce management, technology and the Temployer platform.What You'll Learn:✅ Why over-reliance on temporary agencies is hurting healthcare organisations✅ How to balance permanent staff satisfaction with flexible staffing needs✅ The tech framework that's optimising workforce management across multiple facilities✅ Compliance automation and invoicing efficiencies that save time and money✅ Real implementation strategies from organisations seeing remarkable resultsKey Takeaways:• Prioritise internal resources before turning to agency staff• Integration doesn't have to be overwhelming with the right partner• Compliance and cost control can work hand-in-hand• Technology can create value for organisations, employees, AND agenciesComing Up Next:In the next episode, Ben joins us again with Cygnet Group, where we'll explore their partnership with Temployer and the remarkable results implementing these workforce management solutions organisation-wide.**Subscribe** to get the next episode in your inbox https://www.engagecaretalent.com/ Connect with Ben:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-benhafsi-13b04932/Temployer Website: https://temployer.co/#ad

    46 min

About

Welcome to the podcast that tackles the care talent crisis one conversation at a time. Listen to leaders, managers and specialists about how to attract and retain care talent. There simply isn't enough care talent to serve the health of the nation. Finding the best ways to attract and engage care talent is a big part of the solution. The answers come from all levels and corners of the care sector. That's what Engage Care Talent is all about. We're a podcast that brings the very best opinions, stories and advice to leaders, managers and specialists. We share opinions and experiences