East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH) is a staff owned Social Enterprise, providing community based NHS and social care in Norfolk & Suffolk.>
We have contracts with the NHS and two County Councils. At least 70,000 people are registered as service users with ECCH.
WHY A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE?
We believe the social enterprise model offers us the opportunity to create a more sustainable and flexible organisation, to take charge of our own destiny and make real improvements in services to patients. We are a ‘human’ organisation in every way, most of our funds are spent on staff to care for people and we have an ethos of high quality care, every time.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?
ECCH is owned by its employees. Our staff have a stake – and therefore a real say – in how the organisation works. 75% of staff are shareholders - well above average for a social enterprise - and we have two Staff Directors, appointed by their shareholder colleagues, who sit on the Board and shape our business. We also have a Shareholder Council made up of representatives from all departments which is consulted on issues affecting the organisation. For example, shareholders played a key role in the appointment of the current Chair and Non-Executive Directors.
Staff Director, Ali Jennings, who is also ECCH’s Safeguarding Lead/Named Nurse. said: “The social enterprise model fits perfectly. We are passionate about the care and services we provide but an important difference is that clinicians can influence the strategic direction we take is in the very best interests of patients and clients."
“There is an energy and buzz about ECCH which makes it truly outstanding."
In 2015 ECCH was ranked 20th in the Employee Ownership Association’s top 50 biggest employee-owned companies.
ECCH is a member of Social Enterprise UK, the national body for organisations with a social mission.
