Community Integrated Care, one of Britain’s biggest and most successful social care charities, has recently been awarded one of the most prestigious accolades in the charity sector; the Charity Times ‘Charity of the Year’. This honour, which was awarded to the charity in October 2019, recognises its implementation of a groundbreaking strategy, which sees it invest to create a greater social impact, meets gaps in community provision, and champion the care sector in an era of austerity.
The charity supports more than 3,500 people across the England and Scotland, who have learning disabilities, autism, mental health concerns and dementia. It has a rich thirty-one-year history, founded as one of the pioneers of the ‘Care in the Community Agenda’ supporting people to leave institutionalised settings, and employs more than 6,000 colleagues.
We Dare
In May 2018, Community Integrated Care implemented a new five-year strategy, ‘We Dare’, representing the belief that the charity needs to be the mavericks of the social care sector, disrupting the status quo.
This new and exciting strategy aims to support organisational growth from its current £120m annual income to a £200m turnover within five years, enabling the charity to reach and change the lives of more people. This growth will deliver a greater surplus for Community Integrated Care – which will be directly re-invested into developing the highest quality care and support services, meeting unmet need in the community in an era of reduced public spending, and better rewarding its workforce. At a time when some care providers are needing to reduce their focus to their core operations, the charity is charting a bold, brave and ambitious path.
Within the first eighteen months of this new strategy the charity has already delivered, in the judges own words, “impressive results”. It has invested more than £2million in technology, training and infrastructure, to enhance its services and employee experience. This is underpinned by a strategic focus on employee engagement, with the charity implementing a thriving Reward & Recognition programme for colleagues, including Little Acorns, an Employee of the Month Scheme, seasonal awards such as Summer Stars and Christmas Crackers, and the return of Long Service Awards, with honours ranging from 1 years’ service to 30 years.
The charity continues to innovate in the sector, and by developing pioneering partnerships with major sporting, cultural and community institutions nationwide it is championing equal access and opportunities for people with support needs. One key example is the ground-breaking Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League, where in partnership with Super League and the RFL, the charity has been successful in creating a world-first inclusive sports programme for people with support needs.
Mark Adams, CEO of Community Integrated Care, says: “Winning this award recognises the impact that our charity delivers in enabling people to lead fuller, happier lives, in what is a time of genuine challenge for the social care sector. It also acknowledges the importance of the charity sector and social care providers like ours in standing up for what matters most in society and shaping inclusive communities, where everyone is valued.
Like all care providers, Community Integrated Care is constrained and challenged by the current political and economic climate. However, we think it is important that organisations like ours continue to innovate, act strategically and speak out, so we can sustain a sector that is the absolute backbone of our nation. Our strategic intent makes clear that we are committed to investing in our people, developing incredible projects and creating pioneering partnerships.
We are still in the early stages of this strategy and we know that there is much more to deliver in the years ahead. Community Integrated Care is absolutely motived by the journey ahead and excited for what we, and our partners across the sector, can achieve in the future.”
