BUPA Personal Best Wins Diversity Award

BUPA Personal Best Wins Diversity Award

Age care provider Bupa Care Services personal development programme has won the Diversity Award at this years EEO Trust Work & Life Awards 2011. Titled Personal Best the programme is designed to help employees develop their skills in considering customers and think about how they can treat and care for them as individuals. It focus' on recognising and rewarding all employees who put the resident/customer at the centre of everything they do.

The diverse cultural mix of Bupa workforce meant material needed to be easy to understand and experiential components needed to be put in language with meaning. Equal opportunity for all 3000 plus employees meant selecting facilitators by skill rather than role, education, race, religion or gender - selecting people that wanted to engage. Flexibility of programme delivery was important given the 24/7 nature of the business and the diversity of roles meant offering options like two full days or four one hour modules.

"We are delighted to be recognised with the award and to be among such a high calibre of organisations in the Diversity Award category." said Sylvia Casella, Director of Organisation Development at Bupa Care Services. "The programmes success is a credit to all of our employees."

An example of Personal Best achievements can be seen with two senior caregivers, Mary Jackson and Sally Bosch. Mary Jackson created an 'Activities Basket" for evening residents at Waterlea Home & Hospital in Blenheim. Often the evenings can be difficult to get through and residents can experience loneliness, therefore Mary came up with the idea of a basket that contains various ideas for activities which the residents and caregivers can draw from for ideas. The benefits have been instant with many residents enjoying card games, music and puzzles, all of which encourage companionship and social interaction between residents.

The programme has enabled staff to have a greater understanding of their own team members; cultures, experiences and individual abilities. It has provided increased customer focus and commitment which in turn provides person centred care one of Bupa's visions'. Personal Best continues run throughout Bupa bringing much joy and pleasure to residents and staff alike.

ENDS

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