Why Culture Matters
Great social care starts with how people feel at work. When colleagues feel listened to, valued and supported, the people we care for feel the difference too.
At a time when the social care sector faces significant workforce challenges, listening to our colleagues and acting on what they tell us has never been more important.
When colleagues feel valued and supported, the people receiving care experience better outcomes.
Independent Validation: “A Robust, Values-Led Culture”
The Business Culture assessment, co-ordinated and led by the Business Culture Awards and verified by Hult International Business School, described Be Caring as:
“A robust, values-led culture deeply rooted in its employee-ownership model.”
Scoring 87% overall, the assessment recognised “exceptional alignment” between our values and the lived experience of colleagues, confirming that what we say about culture is matched by what our people feel every day.
What the Business Culture Certification Found
The independent assessment, verified by Hult International Business School, revealed specific strengths across key areas:
Purpose & Values Alignment: 34/40 The alignment between the organisation’s name (“Be Caring”) and workforce sentiment is exceptional. When asked to describe the culture, the most frequent words were “Caring,” “Kind,” and “Friendly”.
Employee Voice: 25/30 VOICE representation at Board level provides “unrivalled” access to leadership. The assessment noted that the employee ownership model bridges the office/frontline divide effectively.
Culture-Strategy Alignment: 41.5/60 Be Caring’s culture is currently “outperforming” its operational strategy – meaning the workforce’s enthusiasm, values, and commitment are strong, with operational systems continuing to evolve to support this culture.
Culture Dimensions: Colleagues experience culture positively in their day-to-day work across areas including leadership trust, psychological safety, inclusion, and wellbeing:
- Senior leaders scoring 95.87% (80.53/84)
- Frontline colleagues scoring 93.14% (71.72/77)
This close alignment demonstrates that the culture is consistent across all levels of the organisation.
Future Workplace Readiness: 43.5/60 The assessment recognised Be Caring as “high-trust” and “future-oriented,” with particular strength in social equity through 100% employee ownership.
Assessors concluded:
“The ‘Be Caring’ identity is not merely a label but a lived reality.”
How We Value Our Workforce in Practice
Valuing our workforce is practical as well as cultural. Our Block Pay model provides income stability and security, helping colleagues plan their lives, reduce stress, and focus on delivering high-quality care.
This matters particularly in a sector facing national workforce challenges – and reflects a workplace where people feel proud, supported and fairly rewarded.
Quotes from colleagues included:
“I’ve worked for Be Caring for 13 years – it’s the best it’s ever been. I always feel listened to and have help if needed.”
“Be Caring is inclusive and cares about the Care Workers as well as the service users.”
For the people we support, this stability means greater continuity, stronger relationships and safer care.
Culture Drives Care Quality
Becoming the first organisation to achieve Business Culture Certification sets a benchmark for how culture can be measured, lived and led in social care.
Accreditations validate what colleagues already feel – but they don’t create culture. People do.
Every conversation, every improvement shaped by feedback, every moment someone feels listened to or recognised contributes to the workplace we’re building together.
Our colleague survey results along with other recognition including the People’s Promise (Gold) and Business Culture Certification all point to the same conclusion: when we invest in our people, everyone benefits.