Assessors highlighted the ‘high performing’ Springhill Care Group for how it has further strengthened its organisation since it was awarded a Gold standard three years ago to join only two per cent of IIP accredited clients to achieve Platinum.

The IIP report said: “Evidence was presented of significant development in its approach to innovation and continuous improvement. The working environment developed as a result of the effective leadership approach has been fundamental to the creating of a high-performance organisational culture.

“Both managers and staff across all three nursing and care homes within Springhill Care Group described how they experience very effective leadership through a very inclusive and collaborative leadership style. People described how everything they do and the way they do things is driven by the company values. This starts with values-based recruitment.”

Built on the three pillars of leading, supporting and improving, the IIP framework sets out what it takes to deliver a people management system that enables organisations to succeed by realising the potential of their people.

Donna Briggs, managing director of Springhill Care Group, said: “This is great news for all staff because they help to make us the organisation we are. I’d like to thank our staff team for creating the culture of excellence we have which ultimately ensures that the quality of care for our residents is second-to-none.”

Chris Jones, Director of Operations at Investors In People, said: “Platinum is our highest award and recognises high performance achieved through integrated people practices. Springhill Care Group first achieved Investors in People in 1995 and since then we have seen the group go from strength to strength.”

As part of the IIP online assessment process, the care group exceeded both the IIP average and care sector benchmarks with an organisational benchmark score of 799 out of 900 where care sector average is 765 and overall IIP average is 724.

Assessors added that on-site evidence presented was found to fully validate the online results of the IIP survey amongst all staff and was “a very strong performance against an internationally recognised business transformation framework.

The assessors cited examples such as the Admiral Nursing Programme offering guidance in dementia care and programmes developed in the Assistant Nursing Practitioner and Teaching Homes programmes.