Double celebration at Together for Children

We are delighted to announce that Together for Children has been shortlisted for two prestigious workforce awards!

TfC has been Shortlisted for both the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) People Management Awards 2023 and the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Workforce Awards 2023 for innovations in Social Care recruitment.

The CIPD People Management Awards celebrate excellence in HR, Learning and Development (L&D) and Organisational Development (OD). Together for Children has been nominated for the Best Learning and Development Initiative for its work alongside coaching and mentoring services and consultancy OCM who has supported TfC in implementing coaching services to all areas of the organisation.  This behavioural change work has led to improving interaction between colleagues, embedding positive principles, and training all new managers in coaching fundamentals.

The team are also nominated in the Best Innovation in Recruitment category at the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Workforce Awards 2023 for its work with Social Care colleagues and the Principal Social Worker in creating a stable social work qualified workforce a drop from 43% agency reliance to today's figure of under 1%.  The LGC Workforce awards demonstrate workplace best practice, by looking at the challenges faced, the steps taken by the organizations and the outcomes for the local authority.

Speaking about the nominations Angela Bremner, Service Manager for HR and Transformation said: "We're delighted to receive two nominations for our work - it is testament to the close alignment between HR and the Senior Leadership Team and the TFC Board that positive change across the workforce was championed and delivered so effectively and continues to benefit our amazing workforce. 

"The coaching approach is a key part of achieving positive cultural change which is central to our People Strategy.  Embedding coaching behaviours across the Company has contributed to providing a safe and supportive work environment for all making TfC an even greater place to work.  It's brilliant to see a switch from task orientated conversations to behavioural based development.

"To achieve a finalist position for work with our Children's Social Care Management Team in building a stable and permanent Social Care workforce is the cherry on a fantastic cake.  We are truly delighted to receive the acknowledgement from the Local Government Chronicle.   The journey to a less than 1% reliance upon agency workers in Social Care has been a challenging but hugely rewarding and greatly benefits services to children, young people and their families across Sunderland."

Winners are announced in September for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) People Management Awards 2023, and in November for the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Workforce Awards 2023.