This episode of the Care CEO Success Stories podcast features John Godden, MBE, CEO of Salutem Care and Education , a leading provider of care and education services.
With a strong passion for improving the lives of others, John has dedicated his career to making a meaningful impact in the healthcare and education sectors, and was awarded an MBE for services to the care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.
John’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping Salutem Care and Education into a provider focusing on a person-centred approach and commitment to promoting independence, choice, and dignity for the individuals it supports.
Under his guidance, the company has expanded its services, establishing a strong presence in the care and education sectors across the country.
By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development, John ensures that Salutem Care and Education remains at the forefront of delivering good-quality care and education services.
In this episode John shares his thoughts and experiences on uniting the cultures of different care providers, including:
- How Salutem Care and Education was formed by merging three private providers and one charity provider, with the goal of creating one successful specialist care provider.
- Bringing together different providers with their own cultures and challenges into a single organisation with its own
- The strategy incorporated acquiring existing operators that need upgrades in management, capital, culture, and environments.
- The importance of creating a unified culture appropriate for the care sector.
- The process of building a culture involved distilling the shared values through conversations and identifying the right set of priorities.
- Overcoming hiccups included changing behaviours, addressing reticence to corporate involvement, and balancing employment packages for different services.
- The dedication and resilience of the care staff during acquisitions.
The podcast also discusses the importance of open communication, feedback loops, and facing challenges head-on to create a positive and united culture in a specialist care provider.