I Care… Ambassadors is a national initiative that aims to inspire and motivate people to consider working in the health and care sector.
The city-wide group of Leeds I Care… Ambassadors are members of the health and care workforce from different employers, and a range of roles, who volunteer to engage and attract people from local communities, inspiring them to join the sector. Ambassadors attend events across the city, and talk honestly and enthusiastically about their job and career journey. Events that the Leeds I Care… Ambassadors have attended previously include recruitment fairs, school careers evenings, virtual classroom Q&A sessions, online networking meetings and health student experience days. Anybody working in the Leeds health and social care sector can be an I Care… Ambassador – no matter your role or level of experience. Everybody is welcome to join the programme.
We are currently looking for more people to join the Leeds I Care… Ambassador community. If you are enthusiastic about your role, and about health and care in Leeds, you could be just the person we’re looking for. We welcome applications from anybody working within the Leeds health and care sector, however we are also looking to recruit Ambassadors who are working in the following specific areas:
- Adult nursing
- Therapies
- Mental health
- Learning disabilities
- Support Worker
- Digital and / or Data
What will I do in my role as an I Care... Ambassador?
I Care… Ambassadors attend events around the city, representing the Leeds health and care system and their role within it. These events could be face-to-face or virtual, an example of regular events are given below:
- Giving an informal talk or presentation to those seeking employment.
- Supporting mock interview practice.
- A Q&A session with students.
- Assisting with interactive group activities.
- Having an information stand at a careers event.
- Publicity or media activities like being the subject of a case study or featuring in a 'day in the life' video.
You can select the events and volunteering opportunities that appeal to you, and what you are the most comfortable with. There is an expectation that as an Ambassador you will volunteer to support at least two events per year, and be a proactive member of the Leeds I Care… Ambassador network by attending the quarterly virtual networking sessions.
Events can take place during standard working hours, evenings, and occasionally weekends, but we will always give you plenty of notice so that you can secure the time away if you’d like to take part.
The commitment of being an I Care… Ambassador will occasionally require you to be away from your day-to-day role, so you will need your line manager’s approval prior to application. When completing the Expression of Interest form, you will be required to enter your line manager’s email address so that they can approve your application.
I Care... Ambassador Stories
Alan, Sheila, Cherie and Karla tell us about their experiences of being an I Care… Ambassador, and why it’s important that people working across health and care in Leeds consider joining the programme. To watch the full length videos, visit our case study page.
Event Case Study: Health T Level Student Induction Days
2021 is the first year of the Health T Level in Leeds. Leeds City College and Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College are partnering to deliver the qualification in the city. Before the students at both colleges began term, they were invited to an introductory Summer School at Leeds City College, and an Experience Day at Notre Dame. These events introduced the qualification to the students and gave them a flavour of what to expect from the course. They also participated in mock interviews to allow them to experience this important work-based conversation.
I Care… Ambassadors attended this event to provide information for the students, talk to them about their careers, demonstrate clinical skills, and host the mock interviews. Their expertise and guidance were critical to the success of these events, which both received brilliant feedback. You can see some photographs of Leeds I Care… Ambassadors Felicia, Sheila and Tracey at the event below.
