KEY PARTNER: West House
West House is Cumbria’s leading care and support providers for adults, children and young people with learning and other disabilities.
About us
Our vision is for people to live fulfilling lives, in the way they want and with the support they choose.
For more than 30 years, we have supported people across West Cumbria through a range of services including residential care, supported living, children’s services and community opportunities. We also run social enterprises such as Hall Garden, Grow West, Café West and the West House Pottery, which provide valuable training, work experience and community spaces for the people we support.
Our work is built around creating opportunities, promoting independence and supporting people to reach their full potential.
Why We’re Involved
At West House we believe that strong partnerships with education providers are vital in developing the future workforce for the care sector. By becoming a Platinum Partner in the Employer Pledge of Excellence with Lakes College, we can help students gain meaningful insight into the realities of working in health and social care.
Providing real-world experience alongside our teams allows students to build confidence, develop practical skills and understand the impact that person-centred support can have on people’s lives.
How we’re supporting students
Through our partnership with Lakes College, we will welcome both T Level and non-T Level students each year for a number of placements.
Students will gain experience across different parts of the organisation, including:
- Supported residential living services
- Children’s services
- Office and business support functions
These placements will give students the chance to learn directly from experienced professionals while exploring the wide range of roles that exist within the care sector.
Looking ahead
We are proud to support the Employer Pledge of Excellence and to play our part in developing the next generation of care professionals in Cumbria.
By opening our services to students, we hope to inspire more young people to consider a career in care and to help build a skilled, compassionate workforce for the future.