Nursing Job Placement 'Kaigo Job Agent' Enters Partnership with Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Care Challenge Program

SMS Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Masaki Takabata; TSE Prime; hereinafter 'the Company') has announced a partnership with the 'Care Challenge' program, organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and operated by Adecco Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Kenji Hirano). The Company's nursing recruitment service, 'Kaigo Job Agent' (URL: https://www.kaigoagent.com/), has been selected as an employment partner for 'Kaichalle Plus,' a program dedicated to supporting employment through professional matching.

Social Background With the progression of an ultra-aging society, demand for nursing care continues to rise, leading to a critical shortage of nursing personnel. Addressing this issue requires both increasing new entrants to the industry and supporting their long-term retention.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government implements the 'Care Challenge' program to provide workplace experiences at nursing care facilities in Tokyo, aimed at helping a wide range of job seekers, including those with no industry experience, to deepen their understanding of nursing work. Additionally, it offers 'Kaichalle Plus' to provide integrated support from job matching (including spot work and volunteer positions) to post-employment follow-up to ensure long-term retention.

Details of the Partnership This partnership focuses on 'Kaichalle Plus,' which connects individuals who have completed the 'Care Challenge' workplace experience with nursing providers. SMS will match these job seekers with its partner nursing care facilities. This provides seekers with access to a broader range of career options from SMS's extensive database. Furthermore, SMS will utilize its knowledge in supporting career changers and novice workers, gained through its vocational school operations, to provide ongoing support after hiring to ensure smooth integration, thereby contributing to solving the nursing labor shortage in Tokyo.

Employment and Retention Support Since 2014, the Company has operated 'Kaigo Job Agent' and, since 2015, the 'Kaigo Job Academy,' supporting career development and certification acquisition. To prevent early turnover caused by gaps between pre-hiring expectations and actual job duties, SMS has established a dedicated organization to follow up on employees throughout their transition. Specialized personnel provide ongoing guidance to reduce anxiety and promote retention. Furthermore, novice workers who join through SMS receive additional support from experienced nursing staff (with 10+ years of experience), including online consultations and educational materials.

Comment from Kenta Tsujiyama, Manager of the Nursing/Disability Welfare Recruitment Division: 'To solve the labor shortage in the nursing industry, it is crucial to encourage entry from other industries and prevent turnover. With our accumulated know-how in recruitment and retention, combined with the support knowledge gained through the Academy, we aim to contribute to resolving the personnel shortage by helping those interested in the nursing industry work in environments where they can thrive.'