At Dementia UK, we've worked hard to cultivate an environment where our employees feel proud and connected to our vision. With 95% of our team expressing pride in their work and understanding how their efforts contribute to our goals, we've created a culture of impact that I am immensely proud of.
Here’s a look at how we’ve achieved this.
A clear and compelling vision
Everything we do at Dementia UK is driven by our vision of a world where no one faces dementia alone – where everyone gets the specialist support they need. We do this through our Admiral Nurses. This vision is not just a statement on our website; it’s a guiding principle that shapes everything we do. We make sure every team member understands the importance of their role in achieving this goal. Regular updates and communications from leadership reinforce this vision, making it an integral part of our workplace culture.
Empowering our employees
Empowerment is at the core of our approach. We strive to create an inclusive and collaborative environment where every voice is heard and valued. This means encouraging input from all levels of the organisation and fostering a sense of integrity, ownership and accountability. By involving employees in decision-making and strategy-setting processes, we ensure everyone feels a personal stake in our success and is motivated to contribute their best ideas and efforts.
For instance, we recently held a series of strategy workshops during our all-staff conference where all employees came together to brainstorm new initiatives. The energy and creativity in those sessions were palpable, and many of the ideas generated will contribute to the development of our 2025-2030 corporate strategy.
Commitment to learning and development
We believe in the power of continuous learning. To support our employees in their personal and professional growth, we offer comprehensive training programs that help them develop new skills and enhance their existing ones.
This commitment to development not only improves performance but also fosters an ambitious culture. Our staff know that we are invested in their future, and this mutual commitment strengthens the drive we all have to ensure we are there every step of the way for the families that need us.
Recognising and rewarding contributions
Recognition is a vital part of our culture. We have established a culture of acknowledging our employees’ contributions and saying thank you. We carry out formal pay reviews to ensure fair pair is felt. We are working on new initiatives to further recognise the contribution of our staff in ways that extend beyond performance metrics; we aim to celebrate those who embody our values of compassion, collaboration, integrity, and ambition.
Fostering collaboration
Collaboration is key to our success. We encourage teamwork and cross-departmental projects to solve complex problems and drive innovation. This collaborative spirit is supported by open communication channels and a work environment designed to facilitate interaction. By working together, without fear of blame or failure, we ensure that our employees feel safe to ambitiously aspire for more, always thinking of ways to enable us to meet our ambitious goals.
Prioritising inclusion and wellbeing
The wellbeing of our team is a top priority as is the feeling of belonging. We understand the demanding nature of our work, and we provide access to mental health resources, flexible working arrangements, and initiatives that promote a healthy and inclusive workplace. By addressing the holistic needs of our employees, we create a supportive environment where they can thrive both personally and professionally.
One initiative that stands out is our approach to making reasonable adjustments, where our stance is always ‘how can we support you and make work accessible’. This ‘can do’ mentality has led to radical shifts in the technologies, approaches and flexibility we have been able to provide to new and existing staff. We passionately believe in everyone’s right to be their whole selves at work and to be supported to be the best they can be.
Leading with transparency
Transparency is crucial to building trust. Our leadership is committed to open and honest communication, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose. Our employees know that they can trust each other and that they are part of a cohesive, purpose-driven organisation. We believe that all of us make up the whole of Dementia UK and we are all working together to achieve the same goal, regardless of seniority, everyone has a right to be treated with honesty and respect.
Closing thoughts
Creating a culture of impact at Dementia UK is a collaborative journey, where, even as we grow, we ambitiously aim to retain our strong and positive culture. By focusing on a clear vision, having clear values, empowering our team, investing in their development, recognising their contributions, fostering collaboration, prioritising inclusion and wellbeing, and leading with transparency, we have built an environment where our employees are proud to work and deeply connected to our goals.
The impact of our approach has enabled us to be increasingly successful in all areas of the charity, from having high-performing fundraising and engagement teams, highly effective people and infrastructure support teams, through to our wonderful services team, who deliver unparalleled support for people living with dementia and their loved ones.
I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together, and I am excited for the future as we continue to support everyone that needs us. If other organisations can take away anything from our journey, it’s that investing in your people and fostering a supportive, inclusive culture can lead to remarkable outcomes.
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