Mental health hospital staff will be talking to jobseekers next month about how they can make a positive different to the lives of those with mental health needs.

On Tuesday, October 18, Cygnet Health Care will be holding an open day at Colchester United’s JobServe Community Stadium for those who are interested to learn more about working in the mental health industry.

The open day is part of a recruitment drive for mental health workers, with 120,000 vacancies open nationwide in the care sector.

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The HR director at Cygnet Health Care, which has been running since the early 1990s, said the recruitment drive was a direct result of the staff shortage facing the health care sector.

She said: “The recruitment challenge facing the health care sector has been well documented recently – increased demand for specialist services like ours means it is crucial to recruit talented and compassionate individuals to help reduce the current pressure on the sector.

“We have an amazing team of dedicated staff members, a number came into support work without previous experience and they will be on hand to share their experiences at the open day for people interested in a career in care.”