Success story.

When Amanda Thomson, Manager at Anglia Care Services, first signed up to the Good Health @Work programme, delivered by Get Set UK on behalf of Suffolk County Council, she engaged in an open and detailed discussion about the areas she was most concerned about and where she wanted to drive positive change and work towards a Gold GH@W Award. 

Stepping into a new managerial role, she faced the challenge of building trust within the team while also addressing a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report that required improvement. By working towards the GH@W Award, she was able to focus on creating a culture of wellbeing and success — not only supporting certification, but also helping to build a healthier, more sustainable, and respected business with the aim of achieving a stronger CQC rating. 

Through the GH@W programme, Amanda was supported to put the right structures in place. Together with her GH@W Navigator Lin Smith, she worked through a tailored plan that tackled key priorities including workplace wellbeing, sustainability, health & safety, and employee engagement. 

Practical steps included: 

✔️ Introducing an information board to clearly show safeguarding, health & safety, and mental health leads. 

✔️ Embedding employee wellbeing into monthly newsletters, surveys, and coffee drop-ins. 

✔️ Developing a “Green Plan” to improve sustainability in the care sector. 

✔️ Enhancing HR processes around sickness and annual leave. 

✔️ Strengthening return-to-work support and PPE monitoring through colour-coded KPIs. 

The impact has been transformative, and Amanda and her team achieved the Gold GH@W Award, a recognition of their hard work and commitment to staff wellbeing and workplace culture. The award not only created a stronger, healthier environment for employees but also provided a clear roadmap towards achieving a higher CQC rating. 

Amanda shared her pride in the journey commenting: “I’m so proud of this award. Massive thanks to Lin Smith for your support and guidance and a huge shout out to my phenomenal team. Whilst we await a visit from the CQC, with eager anticipation, to see the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes to change our (inherited) rating, this is a great time to take stock and congratulate ourselves on a job well done.” 

The story doesn’t end there. Anglia Care Services has also been shortlisted for the 2025 Suffolk Business Awards, further recognition of the team’s progress and dedication over the past year. 

This success story shows the power of the GH@W programme in helping SMEs in Suffolk prioritise wellbeing, strengthen leadership, and create workplaces where both staff and businesses can thrive. 

Lin Smith, GH@W Navigator, commented: “As Amanda was one of my first SMEs, and with my background in care, it’s been a privilege to support such an amazing company that genuinely cares. I’m so proud of Amanda and her team, not only for achieving the Gold GH@W Award, but also for being recognised at the Suffolk Business Awards. Their commitment to improvement and wellbeing has been inspiring.” 

Find out more about the GH@W programme here