1. Company overview 

Moundsley Hall provides high-quality care services for older adults, including residential care, nursing care, dementia care, and respite care. based in Kings Norton in Birmingham.  Its vision is to combine clinical excellence with meaningful daily engagement, ensuring residents experience dignity, companionship, and a sense of purpose. Alongside delivering person-centred care, the organisation is committed to growing and retaining a skilled workforce and inspiring the next generation of care professionals.

2. Challenge or opportunity

Like many care providers in the sector, there is an increasing pressure to recruit and retain staff, where demand for services continues to rise. A national shortage of trained care professionals has left providers competing for limited talent. This creates risks of service disruption and heightens costs when providers rely on agency staff. For Moundsley Hall, the goal was clear: to create a sustainable pipeline of loyal, values-led care professionals who could deliver consistent, high-quality care.

At the same time, the organisation recognised the importance of enhancing resident well-being beyond clinical provision. Older adults, particularly those with dementia, benefit greatly from intergenerational engagement. Evidence shows that connecting with younger people through structured programmes helps reduce loneliness, stimulate memory, and improve mental health. For young people, these opportunities break down stereotypes about ageing, build empathy, and demonstrate the rewards of working in care.

For Moundsley Hall, the opportunity was twofold: strengthen its workforce pipeline and reduce agency reliance, while enriching the daily lives of residents by embedding intergenerational practice at the heart of its model.

Skills Gap or Workforce Issue

Recruitment and retention – finding ways to attract people into care roles, then providing pathways and motivation to stay long-term and reducing agency dependency – cutting costs and improving continuity for residents by developing a stable, well-trained in-house team.

3. Collaboration with FE 

Cadbury Sixth Form College, part of The Sandwell Colleges.

Type of Engagement: T Levels and work experience – ongoing

Moundsley Hall has built an active and structured partnership with Cadbury Sixth Form College, offering T Level Health students meaningful industry placements of up to 45 days as part of their two-year programme. These placements allow students to combine academic study with hands-on experience, gaining confidence and professional insight while contributing directly to resident well-being.

Students join as activities and supportive care assistants, bringing enthusiasm and energy. While their primary focus is on companionship, stimulation, and emotional support, some students have, under supervision, assisted with aspects of personal care – giving them authentic exposure to person-centred practice.

Key activities include: • Creative engagement: leading and supporting arts, crafts, and music activities that encourage expression and enjoyment. • Social well-being: facilitating quizzes, games, reminiscence sessions, and light exercise that promote stimulation and inclusion. • Moving and handling: supporting staff with safe procedures, such as helping residents transition between activities or mobility exercises, always under supervision. • Mealtime support: assisting during mealtimes by setting up, serving meals, and encouraging positive dining experiences. • Resident interaction: offering one-to-one companionship, conversation, and emotional reassurance to reduce isolation. • Personal care support: under careful supervision, assisting staff with elements of personal care, providing valuable insight into the realities of care delivery. • Learning in practice: observing professionals, applying safeguarding, and seeing how theory translates into daily routines.

The College supports students with pre-placement preparation, including workshops on professional behaviours and safeguarding, ensuring they arrive ready to contribute. Meanwhile, Moundsley Hall’s staff act as mentors, providing structured guidance that enables students to feel part of the care team.

4. Outcomes and Impact

Over the first 18 months, 25 Cadbury Sixth Form College T Level Health students have completed placements at Moundsley Hall, contributing around 6,000 hours of support. The impact has been significant for residents, staff, students, and the wider community.

Business Benefits: • Workforce pipeline:

Of the 16 students who completed placements last year, all were offered roles. One accepted a full-time position and six joined on bank contracts, directly easing recruitment pressures.

Reduced reliance on agency staff: With students supporting activities, mealtimes, and supervised care, trained staff have greater capacity to focus on clinical tasks. This increases efficiency and helps reduce costs linked to agency dependency. • Mentoring opportunities: Staff have developed coaching and supervision skills, strengthening

Reputation: The partnership has reinforced Moundsley Hall’s position as a forward-thinking employer and a trusted partner in training the next generation of care professionals.

Resident Benefits: • Greater stimulation: Students provide companionship, creative engagement, and stimulating activities that improve mood and mental well-being. • Continuity of care: Having familiar student faces over extended placements builds trust and creates stability in residents’ daily lives. • Enhanced quality of life: Intergenerational interactions enrich the care environment, fostering purpose, enjoyment, and connection.

Student Benefits: • Professional growth: Students gain confidence, communication skills, and workplace behaviours that go beyond the classroom. • Authentic experience: Exposure to both supportive care and supervised personal care gives students a realistic understanding of care practice. • Career progression: Many students have secured employment or continued into higher education or apprenticeships with a stronger CV and clearer sense of direction.

Community Benefits: • Breaking stereotypes: Young people gain a more positive and accurate understanding of ageing and care work. • Social mobility: Local students, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, are given meaningful pathways into sustainable, rewarding careers.

This collaboration demonstrates that by combining education and employer expertise, providers like Moundsley Hall can simultaneously enhance resident well-being and address critical workforce challenges.

Employer testimonial – HR Manager Moundsley Hall Denise Wisniewski

“Our partnership with Cadbury Sixth Form College has reshaped how we approach developing talent. The students bring energy and new ideas, which make a real difference to our residents and team. We are helping young people build confidence and skills, while also creating a future workforce who already understand our values and approach to care.”

Student Testimonial – T Level Health Student, Cadbury Sixth Form College – Cadee Hunter

“My placement at Moundsley Hall has been a really positive experience. I’ve gained confidence, practical skills, and an understanding of how a professional care team works. Most importantly, I’ve seen how rewarding it is to support residents and know I’ve made a difference to their day.”

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