Blog

Recruitment success is about more than simply filling a vacancy. It's about building relationships, creating positive candidate experiences, and supporting clients when unexpected challenges arise.

When Community Action Derby partnered with Priority Recruitment to recruit a Social Prescriber, the goal was to find a candidate who could make a meaningful impact within the organisation while supporting the health and well-being of people across the local community.

What followed showed the value of proactive communication, strong candidate engagement, and ongoing recruitment support.

The Challenge

Community Action Derby required a Social Prescriber to join its team and support individuals in accessing community-based services and resources to improve their overall well-being.

As with many specialist healthcare and community support roles, finding candidates with the right combination of experience, interpersonal skills, and a passion for helping others requires a targeted recruitment approach.

Following a detailed briefing with the hiring team, we developed a clear understanding of the role requirements, organisational culture, and the qualities needed for long-term success.

Our Approach

We managed the recruitment process from end to end, sourcing suitable candidates, conducting thorough qualification conversations, and maintaining regular communication with both the client and applicants throughout the process.

Our focus extended beyond technical suitability. We looked for candidates who demonstrated strong communication skills, empathy, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for the people they would support.

Throughout the campaign, we ensured candidates were fully informed and prepared at every stage, helping to create a positive recruitment experience for everyone involved.

The Initial Placement

Following a successful recruitment process, Community Action Derby appointed a highly suitable Social Prescriber who demonstrated the experience, communication skills, and person-centred approach required for the role.

The placement was a positive outcome for both client and candidate, with excellent feedback received throughout the process regarding communication, support, and candidate management.

Responding to an Unexpected Challenge

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen personal circumstances, the successful candidate later made the difficult decision to leave the position.

While situations like this are outside the control of both client and recruiter, they can create disruption for organisations that rely on continuity within their teams and services.

Rather than viewing the assignment as complete, Priority Recruitment worked closely with Community Action Derby to quickly identify alternative candidates and minimise disruption to service delivery.

Leveraging an Engaged Talent Pipeline

One of the strengths of the original recruitment campaign was the positive candidate experience created throughout the process.

Several candidates who were unsuccessful during the initial recruitment process remained engaged and expressed an interest in future opportunities with Community Action Derby.

This enabled us to re-engage high-quality candidates who had already demonstrated strong suitability for the role, significantly reducing recruitment timescales and maintaining momentum throughout the process.

By revisiting previously shortlisted candidates and leveraging the relationships built during the initial campaign, we were able to identify a strong replacement candidate and successfully support them through the interview, offer, and onboarding stages.

How We Delivered the Recruitment Process

To ensure a smooth and successful outcome, we managed the recruitment process from start to finish.

Understanding the Requirement

We worked closely with the hiring team to develop a clear understanding of the role, organisational culture, key competencies, and hiring objectives.

Candidate Attraction and Sourcing

Using a combination of targeted advertising, proactive sourcing, and our existing candidate network, we identified and engaged suitable Social Prescriber candidates with relevant experience and transferable skills.

Screening and Qualification

Each candidate completed a detailed screening process designed to assess:

• Relevant experience
• Communication skills
• Empathy and relationship-building ability
• Understanding of community-based support services
• Motivation for the role
• Cultural fit

Interview Coordination

We coordinated interviews, managed candidate communications, and ensured both the client and candidates were fully prepared throughout the process.

Offer Management and Onboarding

Following successful interviews, we supported offer negotiations, onboarding activities, and ongoing communication to ensure a smooth transition into the organisation.

Ongoing Aftercare

When the original placement unexpectedly came to an end, we remained actively involved, providing continued support and quickly identifying alternative candidates to help protect the client's hiring investment.

The Outcome

The replacement recruitment process resulted in a second successful placement, ensuring Community Action Derby could continue delivering vital support services with minimal disruption.

By maintaining strong candidate relationships and an engaged talent pipeline, we were able to move quickly and provide the client with access to suitable candidates without restarting the recruitment process from scratch.

The client was particularly pleased with the quality of candidates presented and the level of support provided throughout the entire recruitment journey.

In fact, the successful replacement candidate ultimately outperformed the original hire during the interview process, providing additional value and confidence in the final appointment.

Client Feedback

Following the recruitment campaign, Social Prescribing Manager Sammi Parkin shared the following feedback:

"Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, the staff member left the post, but Levi was fantastic in supporting us to find a replacement. The aftercare was of an exceptional standard, proposing other applicants with relevant experience, and we recently offered the position to a candidate who actually outperformed the previous staff member at the interview. I would highly recommend Priority Recruitment and Levi personally for being so conscientious and dependable."

Value Delivered

This project demonstrates the importance of ongoing partnership, candidate relationship management, and recruitment aftercare.

By maintaining strong communication throughout the hiring process and creating a positive candidate experience, Priority Recruitment was able to build a warm talent pipeline that continued to deliver value long after the initial placement had been made.

The result was two successful Social Prescriber placements, a protected client relationship, minimal disruption to service delivery, and a recruitment experience that generated positive feedback from both the client and candidates involved.

Community Action Derby has since confirmed they would happily work with Priority Recruitment again in the future, highlighting the value of a recruitment partner that remains invested in success beyond the point of placement.