Project Description
Action for Carers
Action for Carers is a registered charity providing free and confidential support to unpaid carers across Surrey. Whether looking after a partner, child, friend or relative, because of frailty, disability, a health condition or mental illness, Action for Carers understand that caring can take its toll both mentally and physically, and that carers’ own health may suffer because of caring responsibilities. The charity provides one-to-one support and advice, information and practical support, emotional and well-being support, money and legal issues support, access to a variety of support groups and workshops, as well as signposting to further sources of help and information.
Action for Carers tailor their support, providing specialist support for adult and young carers from diverse backgrounds as well as professionals who work with carers (such as teachers, social workers, GPs and nurses). As a Network Partner of Carers Trust, they help carers have their say on caring matters in Surrey, and beyond, working with the NHS, Surrey County Council, and influencing government, local and national.
How People Business assisted the client
To deliver their services, Action for Carers has been granted funding from Surrey County Council. A new tender was won with additional constraints on the funding model and significant differences in service specifications. This necessitated the charity embarking on a significant change programme in 2022.
As Action for Carers progressed through this change, People Business supported them with a variety of people related services. Primarily, this involved supporting a collective redundancy and a TUPE consultation process along with planning of timelines and documentation required.
In addition, change management communications were prepared with key messages to support staff through the transition to a new operating model and organisational structure and reinforcing the charity’s ongoing commitment to being carer led. The communications plan was initiated with an all staff briefing followed by a series of one-to-one meetings to ensure each and every member of staff felt valued as an individual.
The change programme was successfully delivered over an intensive three-month period throughout which People Business provided a sounding board for the HR Manager and Service Managers to support them in ensuring continuity of service delivery in challenging circumstances.
Following the successful conclusion of the change programme, People Business have been invited back to provide a workshop to further support the acceptance and adoption of change across the charity’s workforce.
What the client said
“To be honest, we would not have got anywhere near this far without your support – thank you.”
Claire Belton, HR Manager