Shares windfall for employees of Highland-based social care provider
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A Highland-based social care provider has announced that it is to reward staff with £1000 worth of shares in the company.
Despite pressures across the sector, employee-owned Highland Home Carers (HHC) have stated that every employee who works 30 hours or more will be granted £1000 worth of shares.
Those working less than 30 hours per week will receive a pro rata allocation.
Speaking about the windfall for staff, Campbell Mair, managing director of the business said: “We are taking a significant decision and making a very significant investment in our most precious assets: people. In the face of sector-wide workforce challenges, this investment is made with a focus on retention and recruitment, and maximising the opportunity for employees to be the beneficiaries of our business model of employee ownership.”
The share award will cost HHC in the region of £175,000.
In further good news for HHC, former MSP and minister for finance and health, Andy Kerr, has joined the company as board (non executive) chair. Also chair of the Scottish Government Fair Work in Social Care Implementation Group, during his time in government Kerr was responsible for the introduction of the smoking ban in public places.
Speaking about his new role, Kerr said: “I am very pleased to join a great organisation with great people doing great things for the people we support. I look forward to working with everyone at Highland Home Carers and contributing to the ongoing success of this innovative, people centred and caring organisation.”
Managing director Mair added: “We are delighted to welcome Andy as our new chair. In his role he will be a public voice for the organisation, acting as an ambassador and champion of the good work we do - including our employee ownership, our vision, our mission, and our values. Andy’s depth and breadth of experience and knowledge will be of benefit not just to Highland Home Carers, but also across the wider sector and Highland economy.
“As a member of the board, Andy will exemplify HHC’s core values (excellence, responsibility, respect, integrity, compassion and collaboration) and facilitate a culture of openness and debate, ensuring that the board is effective, that relations between Directors are constructive, and that the board upholds the highest standards in all its endeavours.”
HHC was also recently recognised for its work on the prevention of pressure ulcers in a care at home setting. At the Scottish Care Awards in Glasgow, HHC won the Scottish Care Award for Technology & People in recognition of its highly successful prevention pilot scheme for potentially fatal pressure ulcers. The trial is expected to pave the way for new practices that could save unnecessary suffering - and millions of pounds for the NHS due to the prevention of costly pressure ulcers.
With some people’s skin deteriorating more quickly at home than in a healthcare setting, in 2015 the UK Government estimated the cost of treating each pressure ulcer, depending on the grade, as between £1214- £14,108. That’s not to mention the pain, suffering and indignity they can cause people. Due to the far reaching measurable health and financial benefits, HHC pilot is being hailed as a game changer for the care sector.
HHC was previously recognised at the sixth annual Digital Health & Care Awards. At what is Scotland’s foremost celebration of digital innovation across the health and social care sector, HHC Director of Operations, Carolanne Mainland, and her team won the award in the Data Driven Innovation category for their work on pressure ulcer prevention.
