Safety and security responsibility – employer:
We will have an exemplary record for safety.
Our priority this year:
Ensure that we act as a responsible employer by making sure all of our staff have adequate health and safety training, support and resource and their wellbeing is being prioritised.
Return to office
The safety of staff and residents has been paramount over the past year. We continued to work from home, keeping the office closed to residents and visitors and adjusting work practices to ensure we could meet residents’ needs. As we prepared to return to the office, it was vital to ensure we had PPE available, regular cleans scheduled and that we maintained a balance between keeping staff safe and providing a service to residents.
Regular communication has been key to keeping staff informed. Covid-19 surveys and the staff survey have helped to give us feedback on how staff are feeling. Regular emails and updates at meetings have been used to keep staff informed of changes to working practices.
The Homeworking Policy was updated, as a result of Covid-19, and has helped form new working practices that will come into play when we move to our new office. This has been a benefit to both ccha and staff, allowing staff to work more flexibly and fit work around their home lives better. Staff have been provided with IT equipment to use at home to ensure they are healthy in their workspaces and have everything they need. Hybrid working does come with some challenges, such as less face-to-face interactions with teams. Our new office will be designed to optimise teamwork and collaboration, giving staff a space to engage with each other and residents.
“It has been difficult working in the team given the current arrangements of part home/part office working. Once we get the office operational, the team can start to see each other again.”
ccha staff member on the challenges of home working.
Wellbeing and health have been important in these new conditions and we have focused on the support provided through schemes such as the Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders in the workplace, Covid testing kits and clear guidance on work attendance.
Environmental policy
We are in the process of reviewing and strengthening our Environment Policy and action plan. We are aiming towards carbon zero and meeting sustainability targets through our asset management and development strategies. We hope to review this further when we move into our new office towards the end of 2022.