The shortage of skilled labour has become an enormous challenge in recent years, particularly in the field of geriatric care. Given the unattractive working hours and the physically and mentally demanding nature of the work, it is more than difficult for employers to recruit staff. Annett Koschmieder, Managing Director of a care service and retirement home, also knows the problem all too well: "We have to look after ourselves and find our own ways to fill vacancies."
Koschmieder is the head of the private family business of the same name, which has been running various facilities for elderly care in Calbe for 30 years now: In addition to managing a care home with 37 places, she is also responsible for an outpatient care service, an assisted living facility for 70 elderly people and a day care centre for 24 senior citizens. The entrepreneur now employs a total of 82 staff.
"Despite many years of experience, it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit qualified staff from the region," reports Koschmieder. She is therefore all the more delighted to have recently welcomed 19-year-old Emily Samantha Kempa to her team. Contact with her new colleague came about through the Salzlandkreis job centre.
The young Kempa, who has not yet completed any training, was given the opportunity to take part in the Salzlandkreis job centre's "Finding and securing employment and training" (BASS) programme almost 10 months ago. "Since December 2021, the Salzlandkreis Job Centre has been taking a new and very successful approach to advising and supporting the long-term unemployed with its own BASS programme," explains Operations Manager Thomas Holz. Last year, 117 job seekers were able to find work and 20 unemployed people were able to start training through the "BASS" programme. Once the relevant problems have been identified and dealt with by the "BASS" participants together with the job centre's own employees, the focus is on promoting professional skills. To ensure that jobseekers are not left alone in this unfamiliar situation, they are supported by specially trained coaches. In the first step, they provide advice on employment prospects and career development opportunities, then accompany the application process and job interviews and finally help them to overcome the typical challenges of their new everyday working life - such as the necessary administrative procedures and applications. The employers involved also benefit from the programme and can call on the coaches if they have any problems or questions.
With the support of her "BASS" coach, Kempa completed several internships and discovered her interest in geriatric care. She is currently on a long-term internship at Pflegdienst Koschmieder in her home town of Calbe. The young woman enjoys going to work, appreciates the interaction with the residents and feels well integrated into the team - especially thanks to the intensive induction and support provided by her colleague Kristina Fritsche, head of nursing services in the inpatient area. Annett Koschmieder is convinced of the 19-year-old's suitability for a job in geriatric care and would like to offer the young woman long-term career prospects. The training contract to become a "state-recognised nursing assistant" from August 2025 has already been signed.
Last week, Thomas Holz, Operations Manager of the Salzlandkreis Job Centre, and Annett Koschmieder, Managing Director of the Koschmieder nursing service, discussed the current labour market situation as well as the successes, prospects and challenges of the "Seeking and securing employment and training" programme. Emely Samantha Kempa, future trainee in the care sector, reported on her rocky road to vocational training. Doreen Albrecht, Head of Integration and Participation, and Juliane Karg, Employer Service Officer at the Salzlandkreis Job Centre, took part in the discussion as specialist contacts.