How we work

Unlike most care agencies, we believe the people most affected by decisions - those giving and receiving support - should also be those who make them.

That’s why we use a system called sociocracy. It helps us share power fairly and make sure the right people are involved in decisions that matter.

In typical care organisations, visits are arranged in a far-flung office by someone who has had little or potentially no contact with the person receiving care. Workers who attend the visits are not given the opportunity to get to know the person they are giving care to or build relationships with any of the other workers, family or others involved.

This disconnect can lead to important things being missed, or information getting lost somewhere along a management chain. This can lead to a great deal of harm.

However, where care workers can develop a relationship with the person they support, as well as other individuals and organisations involved in that person’s care, a few things happen:

• They develop a deeper awareness and knowledge of the health and well-being of the person they give support to.

• They pick up on changes in that person’s condition, or needs that aren’t being met.

• They become empowered to make decisions about that person’s support, in direct collaboration with the person themselves and others involved in their support.

The relationships and the conversations that lie behind great care.

This way of working also really builds peoples confidence! It says: 'we trust you, your voice matters, and we’ll support you to grow the skills you need to work in partnership with others.'

That’s a big shift from how many care organisations operate. But we believe it’s the way forward.