Care home buddy programme sees rise in 'retention' of new care workers

Care UK has launched a buddy programme for new starters during Professional Care Workers’ Week, where it is already making a positive impact for buddies as a potential for career development and a rise in “retention” of new care workers.

The Buddy programme was piloted by Care UK in 2020 with a target to recruit 125 buddies across the organisation. It has been widely embraced resulting in the recruitment of 590 Buddies by the end of August 2021.

The aim of the programme is to match each new colleague with an experienced buddy within their care home. This ensures that they feel part of the organisation with the support to build their confidence from the word go. While a new starter and their buddy are officially paired for 12 weeks, the buddy remains a friendly face beyond that timescale.

Nikki Evans, head of learning and development at Care UK, said: “The combination of the selection criteria and the sheer number of successful candidates in the first 10 months of the scheme means it is making a real impact.

“We’re seeing colleagues take the buddy role and use it as the first step in their career pathway towards team leadership.

“We’re also seeing a significant rise in the retention of our new starters. All this, together with our ongoing focus on the individual, means that in colleague development terms we are futureproofing the organisation by nurturing our own talent and instilling a consistently high level of professionalism.

“The ultimate beneficiaries are, of course, residents who enjoy the highest standards of care delivered by teams who are consistent because they are professionally fulfilled.”

Jordanne Anderson, learning and development trainer at Care UK set about initiating an idea with a comprehensive internal recruitment campaign where home managers were asked to put forward candidates and a direct call was made to everyone working in the homes.

A clear selection criteria was applied. Candidates needed to want to be a buddy and be engaging and warm with new starters. They needed to be skilled and knowledgeable about their new colleague’s job, and they needed to have patience, be good communicators and have excellent interpersonal skills. Importantly, they needed to be proud of Care UK and the contributions both they and colleagues make to the welfare and quality of life of residents.

Ms Anderson said: “From the start, we wanted to be clear about what makes a good buddy, and to support that with a consistent structure across the organisation which involved training, mentoring and access to additional learning resources.

“We started with a target of 125 buddies in the first year and we are delighted to have recruited 590 by the end of August. Historically we may have struggled to encourage colleagues to take this voluntary role, but I think that by giving it formal recognition we have made it a more attractive proposition, hence the enthusiastic take-up from our homes.”

’Being told you are doing a great job goes a very long way’

The buddy programme runs alongside their induction programme with training and mentoring and opportunities for buddies to interact with other members of staff across the organisation and the potential for career development.

As well as assisting a new starter with early appointment needs such as induction, making introductions and finding their way around the home, a buddy is also an ambassador for Care UK with a remit to instil the organisation’s values and beliefs and share best practice with their new colleague. They act as an informal resource on procedures and are there to answer any questions a new starter might have.

All this is achieved via day to day working together and a weekly catch up, either in person or by phone.

Sophie Smith, a buddy from a home in Surrey, said: “As a lifestyle coordinator, being part of the buddy programme has had a great impact on the way we welcome new starters into the Care UK family.

“Being a buddy has made me realise just how much first impressions count and how easy it is to forget the emotions that come with the first day at a new job.

“Appreciation is also very important - being told you are doing a great job goes a very long way.”

Buddies are also able to interact with each other across the organisation.

Think Tank sessions provide buddies with the chance to network and exchange ideas and best practice. This was especially welcome during the worst of the pandemic restrictions, reducing feelings of isolation and increasing opportunities to support each other while they themselves supported new starters in difficult circumstances.

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