Havens Hospices

WITH ITS SLOGAN “making every day count”, the Essex charity Havens Hospices is given an overall positive score of 82% by its 252 employees, ranking fifth among mid-size organisations for the My Company factor. They also care whether the organisation succeeds (95%, second). Having opened its doors in 1983, it runs two hospices today, Little Havens, in Thundersley, caring for children, and Fair Havens, in Westcliff-on-Sea, for adults. Both offer respite and end-of-life care. Medical staff, social workers and a bereavement counsellor join forces to provide practical and emotional support to those who come through its doors, whether patients or families. All its specialist care is free for as long as needed. As well as a 10-bed in-patient unit, specialised nurses from the organisation, including Macmillan nurses, offer care in people's homes. Employees are not bored with their roles (80%, fourth place) and agree that their jobs are an important part of their lives (84%). People feel proud to work for the hospices, which they say make a positive difference (both 88%, two further fourth-place rankings). Long-term ambitions include planning permission for a larger specialist building in Prittlewell, near Southend-on-Sea, but sufficient cash needs to be raised for development to start. Everyone at the charity receives performance-related pay, as well as access to an occupational health programme. Counsellors are on hand for people to discuss any issues they have. People here have fun in their dealings with each other (81%) and feel their jobs are secure (68%). The organisation spent £10,000 on training last year. Financial support for work-related qualifications, time off to study and other coaching are all on offer. havenshospices.org.uk