Care Friends Pilot Closes After Strong Results for Norfolk Providers

Norfolk Care Careers has wrapped up its funded Care Friends offer, and the results show just how powerful staff‑led recruitment can be.

Real impacts

During the pilot, more than 700 staff across Norfolk registered to use the Care Friends referral app. Their referrals led to 116 new recruits, with applicants coming through the app converting to hires at a rate of 18:1, well above the sector average of 83:1.

Even more striking was retention. Staff recruited via Care Friends were 20 percentage points more likely to stay beyond 90 daysin comparison to staff recruited through other methods, demonstrating that people brought in through trusted colleagues tend to be a better fit and more committed.

Providers also reported wider benefits, including for existing staff:

"The platform has significantly expanded our recruitment reach through social media campaigns, whilst also enabling us to recognise and reward our team's exceptional care and dedication, which we believe has been instrumental in supporting our strong retention levels." — Oli Corder, Corder Care Ltd

Continuing the momentum

Although the funded licence offer has now closed, providers can still take up the Care Friends app directly and many in Norfolk have already seen how effective it can be. Care Friends can be contacted directly at [email protected].

For those wanting to explore new recruitment and retention approaches, the Norfolk Care Careers team remains on hand to help you think creatively about your workforce challenges. Contact us as [email protected].