CareTech Foundation Impact Report 2020/2021 >> Multiple award-winning foundation leading the social care sector
Not only has the CareTech Foundation had a significant impact on its beneficiaries but it has been recognised for its leaders and leadership within the sector.
Trustee Board of the Year!
The Foundation’s Board of Trustees won Trustee Board of the Year at the Charity Times Awards 2021. Over the last three years, the trustees were seen to have combined a commitment to good governance, innovation, strong strategic planning, DEI, continuous improvement, and hands-on personal engagement to forge a powerful new charity that has quickly established itself as an important player in a key sector, delivering impressive and measurable impact.
Philanthropy Award of the Year!
Shortly after the reporting period for this report ended, in December 2021, CareTech plc won the Philanthropy Award at the Better Society Awards 2021 in recognition of the company’s support provided to the Foundation, financially and through the in-kind support provided to partners by staff from across the company. CareTech plc donates 2.5% of its pre-tax profits to the Foundation every year as part of its commitment to supporting the wider care sector and local communities. In June 2020, the company also made a donation of 1,000,000 company shares to the Foundation.
“We are incredibly proud to have the philanthropic efforts of our staff recognised by the judges of the Better Society Awards. Care sector staff are unlike any other in their generosity and commitment to making lives better and this award is evidence of that. We are proud to support the CareTech Foundation and this award will only strengthen our commitment to the good work being delivered through the charity.”
Haroon Sheikh, CEO of CareTech plc and Chair of Trustees of the Foundation
Recognised Leaders
And, this year, the CareTech Foundation founder, Farouq Sheikh, Executive Chairman of CareTech plc, was awarded an OBE for services to specialist social care, while Jonathan Freeman, CEO of the CareTech Foundation, was awarded an MBE for his services to charity. Furthermore, Jonathan was announced as a finalist in the Social Care Top 30.
Championing Social Care
The Foundation is the Founding Partner of the Championing Social Care initiative – a group of leaders from across the social care sector, coming together to ensure a wider and deeper public understanding, appreciation, and respect for social care. This year was the first full year of activities to report on.
This report highlights three initiatives:
Care Home Open Week 2021
Care Home Open Week 2021 was a great success despite the challenging environment caused by the pandemic, with over 400 care homes taking part. 41 MPs, Councillors and Metro Mayors contacted CSC to attend Care Home Open Week events. High-profile visitors included Helen Whately MP (Minister for Social Care), Sir Ed Davey MP (Leader of the Liberal Democrats), and Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP (Shadow Minister for Mental Health). 86% of care homes agreed that Care Home Open Week helped to promote their facilities and activities and 57% felt that Care Home Open Week helped to showcase career opportunities available in care.
Care Sector’s Got Talent
Care Sector’s Got Talent showcased talents within the social care sector. 38 audition tapes were submitted, with 10 finalists from care groups including KRG HealthCare, Sanctuary Care, Hallmark Care Homes, Kingsway Care, Future Directions and Majesticare. 61 venues registered to stream the final to their teams and residents. All the finalists agreed that the event helped them to celebrate the social care sector and that it improved the mood and levels of service within their teams.
Purple Tuesday
Championing Social Care also partnered with Purple Tuesday, recognising that across the Social Care sector, there is a need to drive better awareness, understanding, knowledge, and best in class practice for disabled people, both as service users and members of staff. 28 care sector organisations got involved and committed to making changes to their activities and wider practice to raise the quality of their service for disabled people.
“No one organisation has a monopoly on the well-being of vulnerable children and adults. Whether as a support and care provider, a commissioner, practitioner or family member, at whatever level or point we operate in the circle of support for any one person, we are each at our best when that purpose is fulfilled as a collective of partnerships, with the individual’s needs at the heart of how we work together to enhance their life choices. CareTech Foundation has continued to provide support in a variety of ways to support the care sector as a whole, enhancing skills through partnerships and offering valuable financial reprieve to staff at a time when the pandemic has caused uncertainty for many. We are pleased to work with the Foundation in fulfilling its commitments to the sector as a whole.”
Julian Spurling, Managing Director for Adults Division South, Caretech plc