Great care employer

The Great Care Employer Scheme celebrates adult social care providers that put staff first. Run by the Quality Assurance and Market Support Team at West Sussex County Council (WSCC), and developed with West Sussex Partners in Care, the scheme:

• rewards good recruitment and retention practice.
• gives providers practical resources to keep and develop skilled workers.
• helps people looking for a career in social care spot supportive employers.

• Complete a self-assessment checklist covering four key areas: pay and benefits; security and flexibility; learning and development; being supported and valued.
• Send your checklist to WSCC.
• Book a one-to-one follow-up with the Quality Assurance and Market Support Team to review strengths and plan improvements.

• A free toolkit to identify gaps and showcase strengths.
• Personalised advice from WSCC specialists.
• Access to recruitment- and retention-focused webinars and workshops.
• Permission to display the GCE logo in job adverts and marketing.
• Evidence to support the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Single Assessment Framework, particularly on workforce wellbeing.

Good employment practice helps you:

• keep experienced staff and cut agency costs.
• attract applicants who share your values.
• promote your service as an employer of choice.
• prove your commitment to staff welfare during CQC inspections.

The toolkit links to policies, templates and case studies. You will also be invited to free online sessions covering:

• smarter recruitment methods.
• flexible rostering.
• career-development pathways.
• wellbeing initiatives.

For jobseekers

Look for the GCE logo when searching for roles. It shows the provider has reviewed and considered how they can improve pay, flexibility, training and staff support.

Any provider displaying the GCE logo has completed a self-assessment. The logo does not guarantee overall service quality or act as a WSCC endorsement.

Download the checklist and find contact details on the West Sussex Care Provider Zone.