Dove House Hospice in Hull has just been voted 21st in the Sunday Times Top 100 Not-For-Profit Organisations To Work For in the UK proving that good leadership and a supportive organisational culture can make what could be a sad place to work, a place full of joy.
The Sunday Times Best 100 Not-For-Profit Organisations To Work For, in conjunction with Best Companies, is an annual ranking of Britain’s happiest and most motivated workforces, collating staff members opinions about their bosses, their working conditions and their employer’s values. Its publication each year is now a highly anticipated event in the UK’s business calendar and this year Dove House has been declared an “outstanding” place to work.
Dr Anna Wolkowski, chief executive at Dove House Hospice, said: “I am delighted that the hospice has been recognised in this way, however it is our dedicated and talented staff and volunteers that make this charity an excellent place to work. For that I am very grateful, and I am incredibly proud”
This new accolade from The Sunday Times and Best Companies follows a recent staff survey where 95% of staff respondents believed the hospice ran on strong values and principles and 99% believed the hospice provided a great service to its patients.
Andrew Walker, director of human resources at Dove House Hospice, added: “This ranking by The Sunday Times shows that Dove House Hospice is one of the best places to work and is an organisation where talented staff and volunteers work together based on strong values and sound principles.
“We have worked hard to create an environment in which staff feel credited for the work they do and their hard work constantly improves the service we are offering. At the end of the day all our staff and volunteers know their hard work is making such a difference to the lives of local people too; I think that is what really makes this place special.”
Dove House Hospice has taken a proactive approach to taking care of its staff over the last few years ensuring they are well trained, supported and that they feel valued for what they do. Director of business and income development Sarah Cash added: “We have worked together to develop strong values – that united we are passionate, positive and professional – and feedback from staff and volunteers across the whole organisation is encouraged through initiatives like our staff forums and ‘Meet ‘n’ Mingle’ sessions. Raising a huge amount of money ourselves and providing services in a challenging economic climate, we have developed a ‘one big team’ culture where we make the best of our resources and ‘going the extra mile’ is what staff and volunteers do as a matter of course.”
2017 also marks an important milestone for the charity as it celebrates 25 years since HRH Diana, Princess of Wales, officially opened the hospice on Chamberlain Road. Ten staff have remained with the hospice since those early days including Jo Gillespie, a senior sister on the In-Patient Unit.
Jo said, “I’ve had the pleasure of working with so many amazing patients and their families here. I can honestly say there’s never been a day when I haven’t wanted to come into work. I feel honoured and extremely happy to think that I have worked here for 25 years and I have never been bored or taken my job for granted. Dove House Hospice is truly a special place and I am proud to say that it is like my family.”
Staff at the hospice will be surprised with the news of this award at 1pm on Wednesday 22nd February at a gathering in the reception of the hospice on Chamberlain Road. The hospice will find out its exact placing on the list on the evening of the 22nd February when the awards are announced.
Visit www.dovehouse.org.uk/careers to find out how to join this vibrant team.
