Shirley Way | Retention is the Best Form of Recruitment

Shirley Way, Midlands Head of Region at Skills for Care, joins us to highlight that good care starts with how we treat the people delivering it. This episode dissects: 🔸 How values-based recruitment shapes culture 🔸 Why development doesn’t always mean promotion 🔸 The tension between professional boundaries and family care 🔸 Why professionalising social care pathways matters for the future From children’s services to national workforce strategy, Shirley reflects on the moments, values and leadership lessons that have shaped her career in social care. Retention isn’t a recruitment problem. It’s a leadership one. 00:00 Intro 03:20 Shirley's Journey Into Social Care 09:08 The Impact of Children's Services 12:41 Creating Care Match: A Recruitment Solution 15:00 Navigating Family Caregiving 17:52 The Importance of Professional Boundaries 20:17 Leadership and Management in Social Care 23:00 Retention Strategies in Workforce Development 26:17 Understanding Value-Based Recruitment 28:54 The Importance of Induction 31:38 Defining Good Care 33:41 Building Resilience and Trust in Care Teams 35:35 Self-Care for Caregivers 40:16 Recruiting for the Future of Social Care YouTube: / @JustCheckingJC Spotify: / https://shorturl.at/tYzTK LinkedIn: / / just-checking-ltd Blog: https://justchecking.co.uk/news/ #podcast #socialcare #recruitment #leadership #care