Quarriers New Horizons Group was established in 2003. Their main aim is to generate greater interest about staff recruitment among people who use services. The group receives support from a Staff Development Officer, HRD Manager, Inclusion Worker and Project Manager.
The group meets regularly to examine ways to establish a range of training opportunities that help people understand more about becoming involved in staff recruitment. In these meetings members learn how to explore the things that are important for them about selecting their own staff and what they are required to know to make this process successful.
Alan Smith, a member of the New Horizons Group, feels that since he joined the group he has learned more about recruitment and gained a lot more confidence.
Staff who work with Alan have certainly noticed how much more confident and assertive he has become since becoming a member of the group.
The group have developed a three day training event that equips people with the necessary skills to participate in advertising, selection and recruitment of candidates. They are also in the process of developing a handbook that will encourage people to learn more about becoming involved in recruitment.
Some members have also attended staff conferences to explain more about the group's aims and objectives. At the 'Let's Communicate' conference, the group presented a video explaining the work they do and also conducted a survey to establish what people's current experiences of recruitment were.
Members of the group were also supported to provide a 'taster' workshop on recruitment for delegates and have subsequently replicated this for another organisation.
Recently, some members presented a seminar on Inclusive Recruitment to more than 80 people at the Leaning Disability Today Scotland Exhibition. This seminar was developed into a workshop that was delivered at the Community Care Live - Scotland Conference at Herriot Watt University.
