Be Caring celebrates end of year with award wins and Christmas bonus
22 Dec 2023
3 min read
This #GoodNewsFriday we hear from Be Caring about their recent awards wins and the Christmas bonus they鈥檝e given staff this year.
Be Caring were thrilled to win three recent awards.
This included two wins at the LaingBuisson Awards. They scooped an award in the Excellence in Homecare and Excellence in Supported Living categories.
The LaingBuisson Awards celebrate organisations that set new standards of excellence within their sector. Now in their 18th year of recognising excellence, the awards are judged independently and objectively and focus on the people providing the care as well as their leaders. The awards were presented at a high-profile ceremony and dinner which took place on Thursday 16 November at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge.
The Excellence in Homecare award acknowledges the team’s dedication to providing exceptional, personalised care within individuals’ homes.
Commenting on the winning submission, LaingBuisson said:
A strong application from an employee-owned group evidencing their commitment not only to the workers but to clients in a funding context (local authority) which is challenging even at the best of times.
During the organisation’s recent client surveys, one person shared:
I am really happy with the care. I feel in control and have got some of my life back, I get on really well with my carers and I don鈥檛 feel as anxious as I did and so far everything is going really well!
The Excellence in Supported Living award underscores their commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals in supported living environments, specifically those they support with autism or a learning disability.
Regarding the winning submission LaingBuisson said:
A lovely example of person-centred planning promoting independence with mitigation of risk. The commitment to collaboration is evident 鈥� lots of evidence throughout the entry and great achievements over the past 12 months.
The team also recently picked up the Business Culture Leadership category at the Business Culture Awards. This award recognised their transformative initiatives and workplace culture.
Chief Executive Officer Sharon Lowrie received the award. Sharon is the guiding force behind the organisation, and expressed gratitude stating:
We have an amazing team who are committed to making a difference to people鈥檚 lives 365 days of the year. I am extremely privileged to be in this role and can鈥檛 thank every one of my colleagues enough for all they do and how they support one another.
The journey to this success stems from a remarkable turnaround under Sharon’s leadership. Upon her appointment as interim Finance Director, the organisation faced challenges but Sharon’s strategic insight and decisive actions steered them to success, reviving financial stability and transforming the organisational culture.
A comprehensive overhaul followed, with restructuring efforts, collaborative rebranding initiatives, and a values-driven approach that motivated them to become a unified, engaged team. Embracing a model valuing its workforce, they use a shift pay model.
They tell us that the shift pay model across all their homecare services has led to improved earnings, enhanced care delivery, and reinforced their position as a leading homecare service provider in the sector.
This year the organisation is offering a fourth consecutive annual bonus – and biggest one to date.
This year they’ve rewarded 700 colleagues with a £50 gift voucher and up to £250 cash bonus. Colleagues have been collecting these gift vouchers ahead of the festive season.
Speaking on the annual bonus, Sharon said:
Here at Be Caring we have no investors, 100% of any money that comes in goes straight back into the organisation. Whether it goes towards paying staff members, getting new equipment, or facilitating specific personal training, the money will be used to help the people that need it the most. The growth of the organisation has been remarkable, from two terraced houses just two or three years ago, to now having the facilities that we do.
They have also have worked alongside colleagues to distribute gifts to the people they support. This year every person they support will receive a sherpa blanket to help keep warm and comfortable this winter.
Share your good news stories with us by emailing marketing@skillsforcare.org.uk
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