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As the Schools break for their well-deserved summer holiday, let’s celebrate some successes.

Ipswich School has been quite simply stunning.This term saw them become the first UK School to achieve the PLATINUM CAP Award.The commitment and dedication brought home that much sought after Platinum Award for their catering services.Via their progression through three consecutive GOLD Awards, the quality of service coupled with astute financial management saw the catering team achieve the PLATINUM Award.

Within the housekeeping / cleaning services, the Creative Education Trust saw their Academies and School build on the previous year’s success and polished their way to further progressive improved cleaning scores across CET Estate – a brilliant achievement at unity and ‘team’.

Not to be outdone, mention must also be made of Battle Abbey School on achieving another UK first in gaining their third consecutive GOLD CAP Award – a first within the Education sector.

So many more to mention from all points of the compass. Suffice to say that common amongst them all though is the drive to improve the pupil experience via the standards of cleanliness, the quality and variety of the food offer coupled with a robust demonstration of ‘value for money’ for the investments being made into these two important services.

Enjoy the summer break and thank you on behalf of everyone who has benefited from your service delivery this year.

Within our roles at the CAP Programme, we are honoured to meet the fantastic and enthusiastic housekeeping and catering teams.The power of the togetherness and drive of these groups is spellbinding to see in action as they deliver their services.

Coupled in unison with the other departments on the premises, it is special – a very, very strong sense of together and belonging.Experiencing this recently at hospitals in Birmingham, Norwich and Reading plus schools in Gorleston and Wellingborough reminds you of the power of ‘team’.

So many quotes on the value of ‘team’ to dwell upon – Just ponder on the words and think of your ‘team’

“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success." – Henry Ford

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson.

My favourite at even better than the ‘three musketeers’ - "No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it. " ~ H.E. Luccock

As noted during a recent assessment visit, the above quote was posted in the Housekeeping team’s room. On asking the team about the quote, each and every one reeled off a series of examples on using the quote as part of their mind-set to navigate past the daily obstacles. In some cases, this was smarter use plus trial of new equipment, others at the use of humour to defuse a situation and also to ‘open and informative’ communications with the different users of the premises to create a better understanding of everyone’s contribution to ‘Total Housekeeping.’

The ‘team’ voice was very much at thinking how could they work smarter in their physically and mentally demanding role whilst growing the team and being better.

This last point is impressive at the attitude at being better. What were they doing – SIMPLE in so many ways – Each and every one lists any obstacle encountered as part of their overall day. Examples were at poor lighting on arrival at work in the early hours, litter spotted internally and externally, poor access for cleaning, repetitive ‘manual’ tasks that could be mechanised and in effective communications.

Not every solution that they landed on worked such as the trial of the robot window cleaner. As a ‘team,’ they have shown and believe that they have grown and are better. A fantastic testament to their attitude.

What about others? What obstacles have you encountered and successfully over-come? Drop us a line to share.

Fantastic to see and hear of the teams working together to deliver their ultimate performances.

What do the Beacon Hospital and St Luke’s Care Home attribute their success to - their team spirit, enjoyment and unity plus a robust support infrastructure working for the common goal – Their Platinum Award

"Many congratulations to all involved.”

Looking back at 2023 and we suspect forwards into 2024 and beyond, the most frequently asked question of us is about the highlights. There are of course many such as how the teams celebrate their various achievements, seeing the housekeeping and catering teams being embraced by their whole work community and growth of the individual and team ‘swagger’.All are fantastic to hear about and experience in their own rights.

However, we do all agree that it is quite similarly seeing the progression of the service.As the saying goes, ‘everyone is a winner’ from recognition for those housekeeping and catering teams delivering the service, their work place colleagues for their contributions to the delivery of the full service expectations and reinforcement of the premise’s reputation for quality.

As we move into 2024, we all will continue to seek out progression i.e. the act of progressing; forward or onward movement: a passing successively from one member of a series to the next; succession; sequence.

Remember it also keeps the CAP team smiling – Looking forward to a great 2024 with all of the members – you are brilliant with your ambition, competitiveness and determination to do the very best for all.

We value the feedback from our members.It provides a focus for us at the CAP Award Programme in ensuring we provide the best and most appropriate support to those engaged with us.

It also gets us an insight into one of the most important aspects – recognising and celebrating with the Housekeeping team.

Spire Hull & East Riding Hospital wrote to ‘Tuesday 21st November, we have a housekeeping meeting/ GOLD CAP Award Celebration’ and they did!!

We are delighted to welcome not one, not two but three new members to the CAP Award Programme for Housekeeping and Catering.

As each and every CAP member pursues their ambition to deliver exceptional service to their clients, it is always exciting to welcome new members with the same desire, drive and commitment for the progression of their housekeeping and catering services.

Congratulations to Trinity Care, Silver Steam Healthcare and UPMC on becoming the latest members of an exception group.