Men at the heart of care, celebrating International Men’s Day

This International Men’s Day we’re celebrating our colleagues who identify as male.

International Men’s Day is a day to break down biases. We want more men to work in care, we know how big of a difference they make.

Picture a Health Care Assistant, or a Registered Nurse. Did you picture a woman? That right there is what we’re striving to change!

According to a survey by Skills for Care in 2023, only 18% of roles in the social care sector are held by those who identify as male.

Throughout our homes, we see every day the impact male colleagues have. The bias that a role in care is a ‘woman’s job’ is simply not true!

Wondering what role might be for you in the care sector? The answers simple – any!

We have male colleagues in all roles in our care homes from Registered Nurses and Health Care Assistants, to Home Managers and Cooks.

We don’t hire based on gender, we welcome colleagues based on their skills and an alignment with our values.

Damien is a Registered Nurse at Dearnevale. His passion and enthusiasm highlights how great our male colleagues are.

“From the first moment I walked through the door at Dearnevale, I knew it was the place I wanted to be.”

For over 16 years, Damien has been part of Exemplar Health Care, living our values, and being a great role model for any men considering a career in care.

“It’s really varied. It’s a learning curve but it’s well worth it.”

The secret to strong teams able to provide truly person-centred care? The mix of people.

A mix of genders brings different skills, perspectives, and communication styles, the ingredients needed to make every day better.

We can solve problems better and connect with a wider range of people making the workplace more effective.

Philip, a Health Care Assistant in Barnsley is another great example of someone using their skills to improve their care. He’s been 3D printing as a hobby for over three years.

When Philip learned that one of the people he supports loved playing console games, he started designing an adaptive controller.

He shares: "One of our residents lost most of the use of his right arm and leg following a stroke. His family told me he used to love playing games consoles and they’d spend hours racing each other on games."

Philip found a way to adapt an existing Xbox controller to work for the resident and using his skills 3D printed it. This act of ingenuity meant not only could the individual play his beloved games again, they could enjoy gaming together!

Colleagues like Damien and Philip provide care that is vital for our residents lives, we’re so proud of the work they do.

You can join our amazing teams by visiting our website and going to the ‘find a role’ section, here you will find the right role for you.