Operator recognised for ‘Gold’ standard workplace culture

OAKLAND Care has been awarded a ‘Gold’ accreditation from one of the leading global standards for people management, Investors in People.

The operator is the latest organisation to join a 15,000-strong list of purpose-driven organisations across 75 countries, awarded a ‘Gold’ status on their first attempt.

This was assessed against Investors in People’s We Invest in People framework, which seeks to understand how an organisation leads, supports, and develops their employees.

For Oakland Care, receiving the ‘Gold’ accreditation not only reflects their commitment to creating a positive workplace culture where team members can thrive, but more importantly how this commitment has been brought to life by championing their staff across all roles and responsibilities.

Chief executive officer Joanne Balmer BEM said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded ‘Gold’ from Investors in People on our very first attempt. We do not take this lightly – we know we could not have achieved this without the hard work and dedication of all our team members.

“I am incredibly proud of every single one of them. They are true ambassadors of Oakland Care’s performance. We really do value her help and musicality. Even though she works independently, she still visits us regularly, sharing her love of music and her amazing talents with our residents.” values. Thank you all for your unwavering dedication towards our residents and for making Oakland Care an incredible place to work.

At the My Fair Lady rehearsals, Caroline helped the performers prepare their voices and, on the day, held a warm-up exercise for everyone to hum the tunes and remind themselves of their lines.

Then it was showtime, with Ronald Burnham and Maureen Smith playing Professor Higgins and Eliza Doolittle respectively.

Also performing roles were Sylvia Drew, Shirley Thompson, Coralie Jackson and Peter Martin.

“Nevertheless, we will not stop here. We pride ourselves on our commitment to pushing the boundaries for delivering exceptional careers and we’re working to ensure our team members continue to receive just this.

This title is just the latest award that the provider has received, having been named as a ‘Top Employer’ on the 2022 UK Top Employers List, building on their recognition as the only social care provider on the list in 2021.

This achievement was a testament to the provider’s HR policies and people practices, in addition to the career and development opportunities on offer that are backed by competitive salaries.

As well as this, Oakland Care has further established itself as the sustainability leader in the sector, retaining its status as the only carbon neutral care group in the UK.

These initiatives have helped to attract new team members who are seeking a positive and purpose driven employer, while also bringing current team members together for a collaborative cause that creates a long-lasting impact.