Friends Helping at Home Team-Building Away Day
Friends Helping at Home Franchise owners held their first team-building meeting together since the pandemic.
Whilst some virtual meetings will continue saving everyone travelling time and fuel, we have, however, missed everyone being together with the Central Management Team that provides our franchise owners operational support.
West Town Farm, Ide, near Exeter, provided the perfect venue for our away day where the team took time out to focus on the important aspects of developing their respective franchise branches, with some fun team-building activities.
Our Managing Director, Sam Stuart-Hill led the day, which started with a team-building game to see who could build the tallest tower made from spaghetti and marshmallow.
Next, our guest speaker, and member of the Friends’ Advisory Board, Sara Challice, shared her experiences and the challenges that face those who need to provide care for a loved one.
Sara Challice: Who Cares?
Sara highlighted many of the current care sector’s problems that stem from poor pay, value, and lack of career development, which is unfortunately all too familiar in the traditional “dom care” setting.
Those who have experienced the Friends Helping at Home approach will know that we are established with a customer- and carer-focused product.
This is now a proven and sustainable way of enabling customers to have the choice and continuity of great care, without the rushed visits.
Plus, attracting and providing professional carers, with a vocation to care, with the reward, support, and recognition they truly deserve.
“I was delighted to be asked to speak at the Friends Helping at Home away day this September and to have joined their advisory board earlier in the year.
Friends Helping at Home provides a refreshing approach to how care should be delivered.
Care that meets the needs of those who need it, and treats carers with the respect and reward they deserve, for what is a vital job in the community.
It was lovely to share my experience of the care sector and context of my book, Who Cares? and meet some of the franchise owners that make up the Friends Helping at Home network.”
Keeping Care at Heart the Friends Helping at Home Way
The purpose of the away day was to review what had been achieved over the last 18 months and what we all hope will be post-pandemic life, building on sound foundations as we return to normality.
During the pandemic, the Friends Helping at Home business continued to grow, utilising new technology and systems, with new key members of the team: Quality and Compliance Manager, Jo Craythorne, and our Office Administrator, Clare Hennessy, who both joined us mid-pandemic.
We also launched two new Devon branches, to great success: Teignbridge and South Hams, as well as working with a professional marketing consultant.
Branch Directors and franchise business owners left the away day inspired after the team-building activities, with action plans and a host of new initiatives.
Everyone agreed it was great to be able to get out and about to visit customers again, to meet routinely with carers, and, not least, to meet as a franchise management group.
“West Town Farm’s hospitality made the day for us. A quiet, secluded environment.”
