Until recently, 89-year-old Les While had managed to lead an active life. He was still independent and was involved in amateur dramatics. All of that ended last year when he was no longer able to drive and became isolated in his flat. Sandwell Community Caring Trust (SCCT) got involved when he joined its daycare scheme.

“When I came here at Easter last year I didn’t care whether I lived or died,” says While. “The people here have done wonders for me; they have brought me my life back. I can’t say enough good things about them.”

Respect, care, dignity and feeling good about yourself are the cornerstones of SCCT and that applies to both clients and staff.

Employees are happy with their work and home life balance, giving the organisation a positive score of 81%, which is bettered by just one other company. They say training is a benefit for them personally (85%) and there is nothing they would change about the organisation (60%), both top scores nationally.

Related Internet Links

• Company website

• Sandwell Community Caring Trust's entry in 2007

• Sandwell Community Caring Trust 's entry in 2006

Turning up the Heat pays off

Strong training and a sense that work is to be enjoyed add up to Heat powering past its rivals into top spot this year

BACKGROUND

• Hats off to great leadership

• Getting the message across loud and clear

• Fly high with the X Factor

• Why it pays to know what you’re doing

BACKGROUND

• Charity wins top small company award

• Special awards for best practice

• Rules of engagement

• 100 Best SME's to work for 2008

Multimedia

• Best Small Companies to Work For 2008

• Highlights from the awards ceremony

The trust was formed in 1994 to provide services for disadvantaged adults and children in the Black Country. It has developed a range of services including residential care and supported living for adults with physical and learning disabilities, residential care and daycare for the elderly, and both long-term and respite care for children with physical and learning disabilities.

Chief executive Geoff Walker says: “If we want our service users to be treated with dignity and respect, have their skills maximised and be happy, then we have to do the same for the staff because their experience of being at work directly impacts the quality of service our service users receive.”

Walker is appreciated by staff. “Geoff is one of us, he is respectful, down to earth and approachable,” says Carol Cooksey, a unit manager. “We lead by example. If there’s something to scrub on the floor I would do it before I would call anyone else. So would Geoff.”

Employees say they find Walker inspiring, giving him an 81% positive score, and feel he runs the organisation on sound morals and principles (83%), both top 20 scores.

They also have a great deal of faith in him (85%), a top 10 score.

The organisation operates a range of flexible working options and each team is responsible for its own rota. Work can be challenging, which is why staff are encouraged to inform managers when they are feeling anxious or stressed and hours are balanced accordingly.

“They are really good to us, really flexible. If you have children you couldn’t work at a better place,” says care assistant Julie Powell.

Survey results show employees don’t feel under so much pressure at work that they can’t concentrate (86%) or under too much pressure to perform (85%), the best scores nationally.

Training programmes are personalised with one-to-one supervision every two months. Two more top scores are given for employees feeling training is of personal benefit (85%) and not being bored with their work (84%).

“It’s about human relationships. If I had to offer one piece of advice it would be make sure your managers like people,” says Walker. “I know lots of managers who don’t. You can learn procedure, but you are either comfortable with people or you’re not.”

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