Giving the best care experience to those who use Sirona services is the overriding priority for the organisation, the social enterprise’s chairman Simon Knighton told its annual meeting.
From students to a nonagenarian, people from across Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire were able to discuss a range of services with staff, try Telecare products which enable independence at home, have walking sticks checked, see what jobs and careers are available and have their blood pressure measured.
It was also an opportunity for people to meet with some of Sirona’s partners such as the Care Forum.
Attendees were also invited to give their views on new services being developed across the areas served by Sirona care & health, a not-for-profit social enterprise providing specialist community health and adult social care funded by the NHS and local authorities.
Sirona unveiled its new style annual report produced by communications apprentice Helena Pearce together with students from The Bath Studio School at the meeting held at the Fry’s Club & Conference Centre in Keynsham; the report took the form of a newspaper with plenty of photographs and stories to illustrate just some of the achievements of the past year.
Simon said: “Sirona has done extremely well in a very tough environment but what trumps everything is giving the best experience we can to the people who use our service.
“Our success depends on the experience people have of Sirona and it is really important that we listen to people who use our services.”
He also paid tribute to the staff for embracing the culture of Taking it Personally led by the chief executive Janet Rowse which encourages all employees to take personal responsibility to ensure that the care and support given to others is of a standard they would want for a member of their own family.
Janet said: “We work with people often at very challenging times in their lives; we try really hard to see behind the individual and we aim to help them reach their goal by tailoring our services to help them achieve that.
“No amount of policies and procedures – and we do have those – keep you safe; it is about having in your head and in your heart what is important; we tell staff if you would not be happy to recommend services to someone you love we need to put it right.
“I also want Sirona to be a good organisation to work for and to work with.”
Janet revealed Sirona’s six key objectives for the future which are:
- To focus on the needs of individuals, families and communities;
- To promote prevention of poor health and wellbeing, and early intervention to support recovery;
- To remove unhelpful boundaries between services and professionals;
- To add value to our local communities beyond the delivery of our contractual obligations;
- To be effective partners, ensuring not just the success of Sirona but of the whole local system of care and support.
- To continue to learn, grow and develop as a company.
Clive Bassett, Finance and Commercial Director, explained the principles behind Sirona’s social enterprise status saying: “Social means for the people and for the community, enterprise is to trade and operate as a business and to live within our means.
“Legally we are a community interest company with 26 members to whom we are accountable; we have no shareholders, no dividends and no bonuses. All our money is invested in services, staff and our communities.”
He said financially Sirona was in a sound position but was facing challenges just like other public sector organisations.
