As a values-led, employee-owned provider, our approach is intentionally designed to strengthen colleague voice, workforce stability, and continuity of care, all of which directly impact outcomes for the people we support.
This festive season provided an opportunity to reflect not just on celebration, but on the systems, structures, and culture that underpin how we work. From colleague engagement sessions to workforce recognition and measurable quality outcomes, this is what employee ownership looks like in practice at Be Caring.
Employee Ownership in Action: Colleague Engagement Through Coffee & Cake
Twice a year, Be Caring hosts Coffee & Cake colleague engagement sessions across the organisation. These sessions sit at the heart of how we lead as an employee-owned organisation, bringing colleagues together with Voice Representatives and Senior Leaders to share feedback, reflect on progress, and shape the future direction of the organisation.
More than informal gatherings, these sessions are a core part of our engagement strategy. They provide a consistent, accessible platform for colleague voice, ensuring that insights from frontline teams directly inform how we develop services, support colleagues, and improve care delivery.
Running alongside our annual colleague survey, Coffee & Cake ensures colleagues have multiple, meaningful ways to be heard, strengthening trust, inclusion, and shared ownership across the organisation.
One colleague shared:
“Be Caring is a great organisation that respects and offers opportunities for everyone within it. They truly listen to their staff when matters arise.” Georgina, Manchester Care Worker
Importantly, feedback shared through Coffee & Cake sessions and colleague survey themes leads to tangible action. In response to colleague feedback this year, Be Caring reinstated access to the Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), strengthening support for colleague wellbeing and mental health.
From Engagement to Outcomes: Why Colleague Voice Matters
Strong colleague engagement is not just about culture; it is fundamental to delivering continuity and quality of care. By creating regular spaces for dialogue, Be Caring supports higher levels of trust, retention, and workforce stability, all critical factors for people receiving consistent, person-centred support.
Early insights from our most recent colleague survey reflect this approach:
96% of colleagues say they are proud to work for Be Caring
98% believe they make a difference through their work
These results provide evidence that when colleagues feel heard, valued, and connected to the organisation’s purpose, this positively shapes how care is delivered every day.
Supporting Workforce Stability Through Block Pay and Recognition
Be Caring continues to invest in approaches that support colleagues to deliver consistent, high-quality care. Central to this is our block pay model, a progressive approach designed to remove uncertainty around paid time, support flexible working, and reduce fragmentation in care delivery.
Block pay supports:
- workforce stability
- continuity of care
- stronger, long-term relationships between colleagues and the people they support
Alongside this, we recognise the importance of acknowledging contribution. This year, we increased our annual colleague bonus to £400 per employee, a £100 increase on the previous year (the first £50 is presented as a gift voucher during our Coffee & Cake sessions).
Together, these initiatives reflect a deliberate commitment to valuing the workforce, not as an afterthought, but as a foundation for quality.
Quality Outcomes That Reflect Our Values
In our 2025 client survey, completed across all Be Caring services, 93% of clients rated their care as either Good or Outstanding, with 54.2% rating their care as Good and 39% as Outstanding.
We believe these results are closely linked to how we support our colleagues: through engagement, stability, recognition, and genuine employee ownership. When colleagues feel empowered and supported, the people receiving care experience greater consistency.
Living Our Values During the Festive Season
Alongside this strategic focus, colleagues across Be Caring embraced the festive period in ways that brought our values to life, strengthening community and inclusion.
The Be Kind Christmas Tree and Evry Gift Appeal
Teams from Newcastle, North Tyneside, and LIFE came together around the Be Kind Christmas Tree, an initiative supporting people we care for who have limited friends or family. Anonymous gift tags guided thoughtful giving, ensuring choice remained central.
Inspired by this generosity, colleagues also supported the Evry Gift Appeal, created by Newcastle City Council, helping ensure young carers across the region had a gift to open on Christmas morning. These collective efforts reflect the compassion and social responsibility embedded within our organisation.
Going Above & Beyond: Values in Everyday Practice
Across Be Caring, colleagues continue to demonstrate how values translate into action:
- Be Involved: Supporting individuals to attend local choir services and community events
- Be Happy: Exploring neighbourhood Christmas lights together
- Be Safe: Helping people decorate their homes
- Be Proud: Wrapping and delivering hundreds of personalised gifts to the people we support, for the 3rd year in a row
Looking Ahead: Learning, Partnership, and Shared Impact
At Be Caring, we believe there is value in sharing what works. Our employee-owned, values-led approach continues to shape strong colleague engagement, workforce stability, continuity of care, and positive outcomes for people supported.
We welcome conversation with commissioners, partners, and sector colleagues who are interested in learning more about how engagement, ownership, and recognition can drive sustainable, high-quality care.