A new Social Care Sustainability Alliance has been established to help social care providers across the UK make meaningful and impactful changes in delivering on their delivering on their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) objectives.

The Alliance, founded by Jonathan Freeman, group sustainability director at CareTech with the support of Steven Fergus, head of healthcare at Barclays Bank PLC, Bhavna Keane-Rao, managing director at BKR Care Consultancy, and Tom Speirs, partner at Addleshaw Goddard LLP, will provide support to providers of all sizes in building strategies to reduce their environmental footprint while strengthening social and governance infrastructures.

Freeman, who will chair the Alliance, said: “Sustainability is everybody’s business, and we all need to play our part. With our partners, I’m excited and proud to lead this collective effort to help the social care sector transition to a net-zero economy.

“Bolstering an ESG strategy can improve operations, financial performance and reduce the environmental impact. It can also be a beacon for staff. The Alliance aims to bring together leaders across social care to facilitate an open, constructive and collaborative dialogue to improve sustainability goals for the sector and its members.”

The founding members of the Alliance recognise the ESG approach within social care requires systemic changes beyond the capabilities of one individual company. By fostering collaboration on key issues, the Alliance aims to identify sustainability opportunities and share best practices across the sector, enabling members to prepare robust, ambitious, yet realistic net-zero plans for longer-term sustainability results.

Barclay’s report on ESG in the social care sector (Time to act: Healthcare at a turning point on ESG), released in September 2022, highlighted the need for greater action in the social care sector. The Alliance will support its members to respond to sustainability challenges while delivering value to all stakeholders, from funders, staff, residents, investors, partnering bodies, to regulators.

Freeman further commented: “Having been appointed as the CareTech Group’s first sustainability director in October 2021, I fully appreciate the challenges many providers experience. We hope that the Alliance will help members to navigate the ESG landscape and provide a safe space to discuss the regulatory, operational and financial pressures that can often delay the implementation of the ESG commitments.”

Following an initial call-out to industry leaders, the Alliance has successfully increased its membership with representatives from some of the sector’s leading organisations. Initial members include the chief executives or senior executives of HC-One, MHA, Oakland Care, Anchor Care, Autograph Care, The Abbeyfield Society, Acacia Care, Voyage Care, Eden Futures, Hallmark Care Homes, Runwood Homes, Avante Care & Support and Kingsley Healthcare. The Alliance is delighted to have such a diverse range of experienced care professionals and organisations on board and is confident that their collective expertise will contribute greatly to achieving the Alliance’s goals. Together, the Alliance and its members are committed to advancing the adoption of ESG strategies that promote sustainable and responsible practices across the care sector.Top of Form

The Alliance further invites social care providers of any size, with or without a dedicated sustainability resource, to join. For more information about becoming a member, please email [email protected].