At Be Caring, we take pride in our colleagues. We believe that outstanding care should be the norm, not the exception.

This commitment to excellence has been recognised once again, as one of our care colleagues, Shaz, recently received an official commendation from Yorkshire Ambulance Service for her exceptional support and diligence in caring for a client. This recognition follows the recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) Outstanding rating awarded to Be Caring Leeds.

Recognising Excellence in Care

Shaz, who has been with Be Caring Leeds since 2018, was formally acknowledged through a Greatix for Improvement, Kindness, Respect, and Teamwork. The commendation, submitted by ambulance service staff, highlights the vital role that highly trained and committed care workers play in ensuring the wellbeing of the people they support.

The letter from Yorkshire Ambulance Service praised Shaz for her close and knowledgeable relationship with the client, stating:

“Shaz showed an exceptional level of care for Leon. Compared to most care we see, the care was clearly above the standard. It was clear Shaz knows Leon very well: his health history, his daily routine, how he lives, and how he likes things. The moment she arrived she noticed things were not right with Leon immediately and called the office for advice to make sure her observations were not wrong.

The office also showed an in-depth understanding of Leon – which we don’t normally see, and confirmed that Leon did not sound his normal self and encouraged Shaz to contact 999.”

*Client name has been anonymised for privacy.

The ambulance service also recognised a key differentiator in Be Caring’s approach to care: consistency. High staff turnover, lack of training, and overwhelming workloads are challenges across the sector. However, our focus on valuing our workforce and developing our culture has led to a different outcome. As noted in the commendation:

“In our experience, care staff, unfortunately, do not always have this level of familiarity with patients. I am not sure what this company’s secret is, but all companies should be following them as a template for care.”

A Supportive Workplace

At Be Caring, we believe that to provide the best care, our colleagues must feel supported, valued, and given opportunities to develop. As the UK’s only 100% employee-owned home care provider, we ensure our team has a real say in how we operate. We also work in partnership with the GMB Union and have a seat on the board of the Homecare Association, advocating for better conditions across the sector.

Our dedication to staff development and fair working conditions is reflected in our colleague satisfaction rates, 92% of our team members would recommend Be Caring as a great place to work. Additionally, in 2024, 95% of our clients rated their care and support as either ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’.

Shaz’s Perspective

When asked how she felt about receiving this recognition, Shaz said:

“I’m a dedicated worker and love working for Be Caring. Be Caring has inspired me in looking after elderly vulnerable people with their day-to-day needs. When I got the phone call from my manager, Cat Sabo, I was shocked as that day I did what I do on a daily basis.”

Shaping the Future of Home Care

As we celebrate Shaz’s well-earned recognition, we remain committed to influencing positive change in the sector. We believe that every care worker should be supported, developed, and rewarded for their contributions. Our ambition is to see high-quality care and a valued workforce become the standard across the UK.