Service Excellence Award

11 November 2010

We are proud to announce that we have been nominated for a prestigious business award and Alison is taking a party of 14 to attend the prizegiving dinner on November 18th.

Nominations are for Service Excellence and will be awarded to the organisation that continually exceeds customer expectations in all areas of their business. They must demonstrate a direct correlation between service and business success and have evidence of customer satisfaction.

INSPIRE BUSINESS AWARDS has been a huge success since 2005 with hundreds of local businesses attending. INSPIRE ’10 will showcase regional businesses and will centre around an outstanding awards ceremony and seminar programme, providing an insight into the key issues that businesses need to address to ensure their continued success and growth whilst recognising local excellence.

The awards celebrate the success of local businesses in North Hampshire and are open to those from across the region and will allow our leading businesses (both large and small) to gain the recognition they deserve for themselves and most importantly for the dedication and commitment of their staff.

We all have our fingers crossed so watch this space for (hopefully) the winning photograph!

22 November 2010

Well, sadly we didn’t win – pipped to the post by Anvil Arts who run the Anvil Arts Centre and the Haymarket Theatre in Basingstoke – but we are thrilled to have been one of the three finalists at our first attempt.

The Awards Dinner was held in an empty warehouse unit which had been transformed to an elegant venue for the evening.  Everyone had dressed up and those members of staff lucky enough to attend, gathered at their table while Alison and her mother joined the other finalists on stage for a photo.

Finalists on stage - Alison & Gill on the right

A delicious meal was enjoyed by all as we waited for the Awards Presentation and the disappointment of not winning soon faded as we started to plan ahead for how we could improve on our nomination for next year!

Celebrating with the staff

We are very proud to have recently achieved this award from Investors In People.  Here is a transcipt of our press release.

WOODLANDS & HILL BROW GAIN COVETED IIP SILVER AWARD

Woodlands & Hill Brow Ltd have held the Investors in People Standard since 2003.  Following a recent review, the company has been awarded the Silver Standard and is being encouraged to ‘go for gold’.  This now places us in the top 5% of organisations recognised by IIP.

The appraisal spoke of a strong learning and development culture in the homes, an involving culture, where talent management is part of that culture allowing people to take on a specialism and where the push to NVQs enables people to advance and increase their skills base and qualifications.  Currently over 75% of the staff have gained a relevant NVQ .

It is acknowledged that in a little over a decade, we will need to double our care workforce from 1.5 to 2.5 million care workers.  This rapidly expanding workforce must be able to access high quality training.  Without a trained, flexible and motivated workforce, improved outcomes for people who use our care services and carers simply won’t happen.  Woodlands and Hill Brow are at the forefront of this kind of training and development.

The IIP report went on to say that in preparation for the building of a new nursing and dementia home, the drive to upskill staff in readiness for the new venture has created greater career opportunities within the company.

Recognition has always played a part in the success of the homes.  Benefits provided for the staff are over and above those which would be found in similar and sometimes more prominent organisations. 

The values of the organization are central to how it operates and feedback is part and parcel of the organization.  There is a general ethos which is encouraged by management, for staff to comment on people’s contribution to the business and continuous development is very much in evidence and staff are motivated to take on new challenges.

Woodlands & Hill Brow Ltd is currently building a state of the art nursing and dementia home at their site in Farnham on the Surrey/Hampshire border.  It will provide for 35 nursing beds and 22 dementia beds with a day centre and many of the staff have been committed to developing their skills in dementia care right up to degree level.

Alison Lee, proprietor of the business, said that everyone was absolutely thrilled with the Silver Award.  She praised the fantastic work and commitment by her staff who do their utmost to provide the best care and environment for the residents.  This award creates a wonderful foundation upon which to build for the future of our new home.

We are thrilled to announce that, out of 280 homes,  two of our star members of staff have won awards in the recent Hampshire Care Awards.

WENDY REES won a Silver Award as the runner up for Best Activities Co-Ordinator in the region.  Wendy was nominated for the lively and caring way she goes about her work at Woodlands.  She has carefully tailored the programme around the residents’ needs and abilities so that everyone feels confident and comfortable.

Wendy is a busy mum and a carer with indomitable energy.  She leads the way on our charity fundraising days and is herself, our star fundraiser always looking for the next marathon walk to tackle!

LORRAINE EAVES won a Bronze Award as another runner up for the Best Cook in the region.   Lorraine’s bright and cheery disposition has enhanced life in the Kitchen at Hill Brow where she prepares wholesome, freshly cooked meals every day.   She spends time with the residents finding out what their favourite dishes are and nothing is too much trouble for her.

Lorraine has a busy and demanding life at home but she still finds time for her NVQ training and is now planning to do her teacher training course in January to become a trainer for Food Hygiene and Nutrition for the Elderly.

Alison with the winners

Alison Lee said “I am so lucky.  I have so many wonderful staff and they all deserve gold awards”.