News

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.

The CAP Awards Platinum is the highest level of accreditation that builds on the criteria for the CAP Gold standing. To qualify for CAP Platinum eligibility, an organisation must have achieved three successive CAP Gold Awards in the assessed discipline: housekeeping or catering in three successive years

Triple CAP Golds are still very rare. Make no mistake, our Gold awards are not handed out glibly. Neither are the Silver or Bronze awards for that matter. Triple Golds point to the continued success of an organisation that pursues the Continuous Advancement Programme. The Platinum level gives those high performers something new to aspire to.

A Platinum assessment is a rigorous process. Some would say ruthless. Before we look at that in detail, we want to point out that the CAP programme is not really about a podium position with a bronze, silver or gold award – even though those certificates are coveted by the housekeeping or catering staff. No, CAP is a longer game. Continual advancement cannot happen in one year. It takes successive assessments to measure and conclude that advancement has been achieved. And that’s where the Platinum comes in for teams who consistently advance and achieve CAP Gold.

When an organisation achieves its third CAP Gold in successive years, it will qualify for a Platinum assessment the next year. Teams and managers need to be careful what they wish for. CAP Platinum is a whole new level. Having landed three years of CAP Golds, they will be familiar with much of the CAP assessment process. However, the criteria are far more stringent.

Like the Gold, our assessment visit will be unannounced. Unlike the 90-day window of the Gold assessment, the Platinum visit can occur at any time in the 12-month period, without notice, and without the courtesy we extend to CAP Gold participants who can instruct us if key team members are away or off-site. We don’t take that into consideration for Platinum. The housekeeping or catering team, irrespective of holidays or other reasons for staff shortage, needs to be capable of performing to the highest standards at all times. No excuses!

In addition, the overall score from our inspection needs to be above 95%, with scores for each individual category of at least 76%.

For Housekeeping, the qualitative, hands-on inspection part of the assessment must return a score of 90%, again with no specific area registering lower than 76%.

In Catering, the qualitative part of the process relates to the ‘customer’meal experience such that at two of the three servings (breakfast, lunch and supper) must be sampled with every element delivering a score above 68%. The aim is simply to demonstrate the consistency of the service quality to the diner across a longer time period.

Should an organisation fall short in any area of the assessment, they will not achieve the CAP Platinum but would still be able to secure a further CAP Gold award.

Some schools and healthcare organisations have been CAP Awards participants for many years, and virtually all demonstrate advancement year on year thanks to our 12-month action plans. On that basis, while triple Golds are rare, we don’t expect them to remain so. We look forward to assessing at CAP Platinum level more frequently.

ENDS

Well done to Julie and the Team.

Great team effort to keep the standards going through the refurbishment

2022 saw a number of fantastic performances for the Housekeeping and Catering Teams within the CAP Award Programme.

One of the most notable features amongst the member teams is their drive and ambition to progress their services. This could be from the very important achievement of delivery at Bronze and then the development of the service further to Silver. It is equally testament to these Housekeeping and Catering groups and the wider industry on their ability to recognise quality and then go on to deliver consistently.

With 2023 up and running at a pace, the CAP community continues to grow – Up 15% in 2022. What can we expect in 2023 – Ultimately, the feedback forms say it all at team recognition, point of motivation, excellence in the service delivery, aiming for progression to the next Award level and care of all who use the service. What a fantastic approach and attitude – Well done to all involved – You Housekeeping and Catering leaders with your teams truly deserve the recognition