CUSTOMERS of social care provider Persona are becoming staff recruiters for the day as the company aims to fill its latest vacancies.

Traditional staff interviews are a thing of the past – with new recruits instead being asked to take part in activities and scenarios with the people they would be caring for.

HR staff at Persona say the new approach is about finding people who are most suited to the caring roles, and will give customers a direct role in deciding who gets a job.

Persona is asking people who might be interested in a career in social care to come along to a recruitment and information event at the Mill Gate shopping centre in Bury on June 30 to find out more.

Potential new recruits will then be invited to a workshop where they will be assessed as they take part in activities with Persona customers including older people and those with physical and learning disabilities.

Persona runs a number of adult social care services which were formerly provided by Bury Council.

Its new vacancies include several roles supporting people with learning disabilities.

Kat Sowden, Managing Director of Persona Care and Support, said: “For some time now we’ve felt that the traditional approach to recruitment just isn’t working for some roles in social care. For those of our staff who work directly with our customers, a formal interview process doesn’t always help us find out about the person, and how they would interact with customers. So we thought, why not get the customers themselves involved?”

A pilot event earlier this year trialled a number of scenarios and activities which would be used instead of formal interview to put candidates through their paces. Customers and candidates were asked to work together to build a tower out of dried spaghetti and marshmallows, and also played ‘human bingo’ which aims to get people talking about the things they have in common.

Taking part was 24-year-old Andrew McCarthy who lives at Persona’s supported living accommodation at Fir Street in Ramsbottom.

Andrew said: “I really enjoyed taking part in the recruitment event. It was great to meet the people who wanted to come to work for Persona and find out what they were like. One of the people at the event now works with me at my home. I enjoyed taking part and getting to know everyone. It’s great that we are being asked to help Persona find new staff.”

If you wish to discuss any of the roles with Persona contact Senior HR Officer Charlotte O’Rourke on (0161) 253 6849 or email charlotte.orourke@personasupport.org

Staff will be on hand from 9am-5pm at the Mill Gate Shopping Centre (outside Greggs) on Friday, June 30 to answer questions and to take details from candidates.