Business

Connected Health to create 200 jobs

Launching the new academy are (from left) Theresa Morrison, training director at Connected Academy; Professor George Crooks, chairman of Clinical and Social Care Governance Board; Brian O’Connor, chairman of Connected Health Group; Naomi Corr, trainer; and Douglas Adams, CEO Connected Health
Launching the new academy are (from left) Theresa Morrison, training director at Connected Academy; Professor George Crooks, chairman of Clinical and Social Care Governance Board; Brian O’Connor, chairman of Connected Health Group; Naomi Corr, train Launching the new academy are (from left) Theresa Morrison, training director at Connected Academy; Professor George Crooks, chairman of Clinical and Social Care Governance Board; Brian O’Connor, chairman of Connected Health Group; Naomi Corr, trainer; and Douglas Adams, CEO Connected Health

PRIVATE home care provider Connected Health is creating 200 jobs across its operations in Belfast and north Down.

The announcement was made at the official opening of the company's new Connected Academy training facility at the Park Centre in Belfast, the north’s first dedicated and accredited training facility for care workers.

Recruitment has already begun for the new home care, training and support posts.

Connected Health, which delivers 1.5 million care visits across Northern Ireland each year, currently employs more than 450 people in the north and another 110 in the Republic.

The new Connected Academy will offers fully accredited training courses to HND and foundation degree level, and will help address a deficit in professional and educational opportunities for workers in the care sector.

Professor George Crooks OBE, chairman of the Connected Health clinical governance board, said: “The Connected Academy is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and will deliver first-class professional development opportunities for our growing team.

"The foundation of this new Open College Network accredited training facility represents a significant investment in Connected Health’s people and promotes the continued provision of the highest standards of care for our clients.

“Our partners in the OCN Northern Ireland, the awarding body, will assist in providing a learning pathway for our carers from basic level one to HND and foundation degree level. This partnership provides a superb avenue for development for new and existing employees in the ever-growing Connected Health family.”

Connected Health chair Brian O’Connor said: “We are delighted to announce the continued growth of the Connected Health family with the recruitment of 200 new roles. Recruitment will begin immediately, and the new employees will be deployed in supported living, care and training roles across Belfast, North Down and other health trust areas across Northern Ireland.

“The highest possible standards of training and development will be provided to all new recruits to continue to promote opportunity, aspiration and career progression throughout our organisation.”