The prestigious national award for Highland Home Carer’s HR & Workforce Development Team recognises the significant investments that HHC has made in training and education, and the thought leadership that they bring across the care sector. It also highlights the importance of continuous training and learning within care at home and housing support services.
Commenting on behalf of HHC, Managing Director, Campbell Mair, said:
“This award is a great achievement, for our HR & Workforce Development Team, for HHC overall and for the Highlands. Established in 2022, Highland Home Carers Adult Social Care Academy is an Employee-Owned Social Enterprise. Since its inception the Academy has grown its capacity to deliver a range of learning opportunities for both HHC colleagues and the wider sector. This award is great recognition of the work being done by the academy.
“Against a backdrop of an increasingly inaccessible higher education sector, the Academy was accredited as an SQA Centre in 2023. The Human Resource & Workforce Development (HR & WD) Team that run the Academy is currently supporting 18 colleagues through their SVQ2&3 qualifications, PDA’s and CPL.”
New recruits spend a week at the Academy, completing mandatory training, value-added training as well as a Corporate Induction. The facilities and equipment are sector-leading, and colleagues meet ERRICC, HHC’s training mannequin (whose name is an acronym for our values of Excellence, Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Compassion, and Collaboration) at his home at 1A Highlander Way. 1A is kitted out with a tracking hoist, toilet, shower, and other extensive moving and assisting equipment and has different flooring and levels to make the training as realistic as possible.
Mair adds: “The Academy provides a career pathway for operational and support colleagues regardless of the role they join HHC in. The HR&WD Team has a significant and positive impact on supporting colleagues throughout the sector to develop themselves by providing high-quality learning and development thus improving operational excellence throughout the Highlands.”
In receiving the award, HHC was particularly praised for the support it has given colleagues at the later stages of their careers, with many worried they would have to leave the roles they enjoyed immensely because they were hesitant or lacked confidence to navigate the world of SVQs. In addition to supporting colleagues the HHC team is supporting another provider whose business was at risk as skilled but unqualified Care Practitioners were going to have to leave the sector.
Hosted at the at the Radisson Blu, Glasgow on Friday 17th May, this is the 18th consecutive year of Scottish Care’s National Care at Home & Housing Support Awards. Hosted by TV and music celebrity Michelle McManus and Scottish Care CEO, Dr. Donald Macaskill, the event was attended by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Maree Todd MSP.
Two other employee-owned companies were recognised for their excellence in care. Stewartry Care featured in the Care Innovation award as part of the Dumfries & Galloway Care at Home Collaborative. Elaine Couplan of Aspire Housing and Personal Development was a finalist in the Care Service Administration/Co-ordination Award.
Scotland based employee ownership specialists.
