January 2006

Recruitment and retention are major problems to both the cost and quality of service delivery in the care sector. The aim of this Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) was to implement new strategies that can reduce costs associated with recruitment activity and to improve the quality and continuity of care delivery. The KTP Associate worked with Anchor Trust to develop better data sets relating to the movement of staff, recruitment and retention and associated costs. Academic study of literature was complemented by in-depth interviews with senior directors of the Trust, home managers and care staff.

The KTP led to the development of an innovative audit tool that allows home managers to identify not only issues of concern to staff, but also suggested methods of managing and overcoming such concerns to improve work experience. Analysis can now be made on a home-by-home basis, and such an evidence-based approach to developing new management practices has ensured that any improvements are based on sound foundations.

As well as a new auditing tool, the partnership has led to an improved quality of service, culture change within the company, and access to new development opportunities. The research has resulted in an intensive implementation of new practices within company sites throughout the UK.

Project details:

• Full case study (PDF, 211Kb)