Interview with Social Care Recruitment Specialist: Sophie Payne

In this blog, you will learn:

• How supporting vulnerable adults in care homes has helped this individual as a social care recruitment specialist.
• How Spencer Clarke Group helps to overcome recruitment challenges currently facing the social care sector.
• Where the latest social care jobs are and how to apply for them. 

In our latest ‘Interview with a recruiter’ we’ve been talking to Senior Consultant, Sophie Payne, whose expertise lies in social care recruitment. 

Sophie explains how Spencer Clarke Group is ready to assist local authorities, children's residential homes, and private organisations with their recruitment needs amid staff shortages and financial challenges.

Sophie, tell us about yourself

I am a Managing Consultant within the public sector team at Spencer Clarke Group, specialising in Health and Social Care and Housing opportunities across Greater Manchester, the Midlands, Yorkshire, and Wales. 

How did you end up in the world of recruitment?

I’ve always been passionate about the social care sector, particularly working with children in school and nursery settings. This inspired me to study Health and Social Care at college, where I proudly achieved a Double Distinction Star. 

During my placements, I gained valuable experience across a variety of settings – from supporting vulnerable adults in care homes to working with young children in schools.

Following this, I pursued a degree in Early Childhood Studies at Liverpool John Moores University. After graduating, I began my career as an Early Years Practitioner. While I enjoyed the role, I soon realised I wanted to broaden my career path and apply my skills in a different way.

I joined Spencer Clarke Group as a Resourcer and within just one week was promoted to Recruitment Consultant - an incredibly exciting opportunity. 

Three years on, I’m now a Managing Consultant, leading and growing my residential, health & social care, and housing desk every day.

What does your role entail at Spencer Clarke Group?

As a Managing Consultant, my role involves building and developing my Residential, Health & Social Care, and Housing desk. I specialise in building strong client partnerships, sourcing high-quality candidates, and ensuring the best possible recruitment solutions are delivered.

Day-to-day, my responsibilities include:

• Managing and growing client relationships within the social care and housing sectors.
• Overseeing end-to-end recruitment processes, from identifying and sourcing candidates to placing them in the right roles.
• Supporting and mentoring consultants to help them achieve their goals.
• Driving business development and expanding service offerings within my sector.
• Keeping up to date with sector changes, compliance requirements, and workforce needs to provide expert guidance to both clients and candidates.

Ultimately, my role is about combining my sector knowledge and people skills to connect passionate professionals with organisations where they can make a real difference.

Who do you work with?

I work in partnership with children and adults residential homes across both the private sector and public sector, supporting them in recruiting skilled and dedicated professionals who provide high-quality care and support to young people. 

My remit covers a wide range of roles, from Registered Managers to Day Support Workers, ensuring each organisation is matched with the right people to meet their needs.

Alongside this, I also collaborate with local authorities and private organisations within the wider community, providing recruitment solutions for Qualified Social Workers, Family Support Workers, Social Work Assistants, Housing Officers, and other key roles. This allows me to support services that make a meaningful difference to individuals, families, and communities.

Can you give us an insight into how your market works?

The social care recruitment market is both fast-paced and highly people-focused. Services such as children’s and adults’ residential homes, along with local authorities and housing providers, often require urgent staffing solutions to maintain safe staffing levels and ensure high-quality care.

Because of this, my role involves building strong relationships with both clients and candidates so I can respond quickly and effectively to their needs.

It’s a market built on trust, speed, and understanding. Clients rely on me to find skilled professionals who are not only qualified but also the right fit for their service, while candidates trust me to connect them with opportunities where they can thrive and make a real impact.

What is the best thing about being a recruiter within the social care sector?

The best thing about being a recruiter within the social care sector is knowing the impact my work has on people’s lives. Every placement isn’t just filling a role – it’s about making sure vulnerable children, young people, and adults have the right support in place.

It’s incredibly rewarding to see the difference the right professional can make, whether that’s a Residential Support Worker providing stability for a child, or a Social Worker helping a family through a difficult time. Being part of that process, even indirectly, is what makes this role so meaningful.

What are the current challenges facing the social care sector, specifically within children’s residential homes?

The children’s residential care sector faces ongoing challenges, including staffing shortages, high turnover, and increasing demand for placements. This makes it crucial for homes to find skilled and committed professionals quickly to maintain high-quality care. 

At the same time, financial pressures and capacity constraints can impact service delivery, highlighting the importance of recruiting the right people for the right roles. 

Our goal is to support children’s residential homes by connecting them with experienced, dedicated professionals who can make a real difference every day.

How does Spencer Clarke Group help overcome these challenges?

We support children’s residential homes by connecting them with experienced, dedicated professionals who are the right fit for their roles. 

By understanding the unique needs of each home, we help ensure consistent staffing, reduce turnover, and enable services to deliver the high standard of care that individuals deserve.

What advice would you give to a professional looking for their first position within social care, specifically within a children’s residential home?

For professionals seeking their first role in a children’s residential home, my advice would be to focus on gaining relevant experience and understanding the core responsibilities of the role. Volunteering, work placements, or shadowing opportunities can provide invaluable insight into day-to-day duties and the skills required.

It’s also important to highlight transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, patience, and empathy, which are highly valued in social care. 

Finally, approaching the application and interview process with honesty and enthusiasm demonstrating a genuine passion for making a difference in the lives of children, will help you stand out.

What does the future hold for you at Spencer Clarke Group?

Looking ahead, my focus at Spencer Clarke Group is on continuing to grow and strengthen our residential market. 

I’m passionate about building long-term relationships with children’s and adults’ residential homes, helping them find the right professionals to deliver exceptional care. 

By expanding our reach and enhancing the services we offer, I aim to ensure that our clients have access to skilled, dedicated staff while providing rewarding opportunities for candidates looking to make a real difference in social care.

Social care jobs

If you’re searching for your next interim social care job, why not take a look at the latest vacancies, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available. 

Social care recruitment services

As social care recruitment specialists, we support local authorities, children and adults residential homes, and private sector organisations nationwide with their temporary, permanent and interim recruitment needs. 

If you’re struggling to fill a vacancy, why not get in touch with Managing Consultant, Sophie Payne on 01772 954200 to see how we can help?

Who is Spencer Clarke Group?

Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations. 

In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.