Care provider recognised for commitment to staff

Shropshire’s largest care provider is celebrating after retaining the prestigious Investors in People award following a rigorous assessment process.

Coverage Care, which runs 14 homes in the county on a not for profit basis, has held the standard that recognises organisations for their investment and commitment to their workforce continuously since 2001. It has now been recognised for a further three years.

Coverage Care employs more than 1,000 people in a range of roles from caring to administration at its homes in Shrewsbury, Telford, Newport, Whitchurch, Market Drayton, Oswestry, Bridgnorth and Bishops Castle as well as its regional office.

David Coull, Chief Executive of Coverage Care, said retaining the status was testament to the company’s commitment to the meaningful and directed development of its staff.

“Our most important asset is our staff and we are committed to helping them focus every effort on supporting those people in need of our care and thereby to develop their careers should they wish,” he said.

“Our staff make a real difference to the lives of the people we support, providing the excellent standard of care for which we are well known. As an organisation, we are determined to provide a framework that helps them achieve the best they can and the Investors in People accreditation is external validation that we are successfully meeting that aim.”

To achieve the Investors in People standard, employers have to demonstrate how it leads, supports and improves its workforce, meeting nine key indicators in areas such as leading and inspiring, managing performance and creating sustainable success.

The organisation had to demonstrate that it satisfied 37 mandatory evidence requirements in a rigorous assessment that reflected the latest workplace trends, essential skills and effective structures to demonstrate it is a leader in its field. The internationally recognised accolade is only awarded to 14,000 organisations across the world.

Coverage Care has a dedicated in-house training team that provides mandatory and regulatory training as well as a full range of skill specific training tailored to staff requirements.

It also offers leader development programmes, regular staff reviews and runs a monthly award scheme to reward outstanding employees.

Montgomery House, a new purpose built 90-bed facility, will open later this year in Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury, and will act as a replacement for Crowmoor House.