Member Article

Chief executive and managers celebrate 25 years with care organisation

Staff at a Hull and East Riding based care organisation are pulling out the stops to celebrate the company’s silver anniversary.

The longest serving staff members with the organisation, including chief executive Penni Brown, deputy manager at Hull based Elm Tree Court, Diane Pennington and manager Ida Smith, came together to celebrate 25 years with not for profit organisation Hica Group.

The care group runs 17 homes and home care across Hull and East Riding, as well as Retirement Villages in Hedon and Lancashire.

The Hica Group marked its 25th anniversary by throwing a number of celebratory events for staff, residents and friends throughout the year including its glamourous Shine Ball at the Hull Station Hotel for hundreds of its residents.

Penni Brown began her career with the organisation as manager of Horrox Court after years of experience within the care industry. In 1995 Penni became the business manager of Hica Home Care, which grew from one branch to five across Hull and East Riding, and following that was promoted as managing director of housing care and support for the organisation, before gaining the chief executive role in 2014.

Diane and Ida, who both work at Elm Tree Court, say their long careers at the company are thanks to the organisation’s genuine dedication to the residents and their needs.

Diane said: “I have worked for Hica Group for so long because there has always been a big emphasis on the residents, especially since Penni became chief executive. It is fantastic that the company employs activity coordinators who are employed purely to plan the best and most beneficial programme which supports mental and physical health and wellbeing.

“For employees of the company there is a lot of opportunity for promotion and job satisfaction. I started working as a carer, a senior carer, a personal care manager and now deputy manager. No two days are the same and I can honestly say I love my job.”

Penni said: “For 25 years HICA Group has remained an organisa¬tion where the desire to provide the best services is embedded in everything we do. We have also developed and introduced our Shine Philosophy, which is an important aspirational philosophy and organisational commitment to continuous improvement as well as a personal pledge to making a difference.

“Through various initiatives – the Shine Forum, fundraising and the Shine Awards we encourage staff involvement while supporting constant development across all areas of activity. Shine is a culture that turns kindness and compassion into actions; where small actions can make big differences.

“We have supported and cared for many people in our 25 years, and we have both heard and created some wonderful and memorable stories along the way. Our residents are the people who inspire us every day to carry on in our pledge to provide the best person centred care.”

The Hica Group operates a portfolio of 17 residential care homes, five of which are for people with a learning disability, along with two retirement villages. The company also runs a home care service providing approximately 11,500 hours of support and care from four regional offices in the North of England.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by The Hica Group .