Driving sustainability in care homes

Sustainability is now firmly on the agenda with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) making it a key part of its assessment criteria. It’s no longer a nice to have for any care home that wants to protect or build its rating.  

Care Home Management Magazine recently invited Zellar’s CMO, James Read - alongside other sustainability experts - on to a podcast to discuss how care homes can meet this fresh new regulatory challenge. As well as to discuss the multiple knock-on benefits – beyond simply becoming compliant. 

Here’s five key insights from the podcast:  

1. Sustainability and cost savings go hand in hand: Cost benefits can play a pivotal role in getting sustainability initiatives off the ground. Transitioning to sustainable practices can yield substantial long-term savings. Zellar businesses for example can see up to £4,100 in savings. 

2. Get buy-in from the top: Securing buy-in from leadership is paramount, but equally crucial is the presence of a sustainability champion or team to spearhead initiatives and foster a culture of sustainability. 

3. Measure and set targets: Establishing clear metrics and targets is essential for tracking progress and creating accountability. Reinvesting ‘bill savings’ in green technologies such as smart washing machines, can further optimise resource utilisation and drive more cost savings. 

4. Engage employees: Engaging staff in sustainability efforts can help boost morale and enhance operational efficiency. It’s important to help caregivers understand how their actions help contribute towards the care home’s sustainability progress and to keep them engaged and motivated by sharing and celebrating that progress along the way.  

5. The future is data and digital: Embracing digital solutions early on not only helps to make giant strides forward from day one - but also enables data-driven decision-making. This is especially interesting for care home groups that are managing multiple properties as it can help them to unlock critical insights into where to make cost saving, sustainable investments, as well as what to invest in. 

So, whilst the CQC’s focus on sustainability may be the driving reason for care homes to start their sustainability journey, it will unlock many supplementary benefits that will keep them on it.  

And the good news is that Zellar can help you navigate this journey seamlessly, making sustainability achievable and beneficial - whether you're running a single care home or a large group of care homes. 

If you’re a care home looking to accelerate your sustainability journey, book a demo or get in touch with our team. And don’t forget to tune in to the Care Home Management podcast!