How Sussex Grange uses Care Friends to celebrate staff, strengthen values and support recruitment
13 Jul 2026
2 min read
We hear from Sussex Grange about how they鈥檝e been using the Care Friends app to recognise staff achievements, and the impact it鈥檚 had.
In adult social care, feeling valued can make all the difference. While recognition is often associated with formal awards or annual celebrations (and this year, in particular, there have been many awards), Sussex Grange has also found success in rewarding the everyday actions that help create a positive workplace culture.
Based in Selsey, West Sussex, Sussex Grange provides both residential care and home care services across Chichester, Selsey and the surrounding areas. Rated Good by the CQC across all five key questions, the organisation has used the Care Friends platform since September 2022 to support both recruitment and staff recognition.
What started as a staff referral tool has evolved into something much bigger: a way to recognise colleagues, reinforce organisational values and celebrate long-term commitment.
Care Friends enables team members to share vacancies with people they know and receive rewards when referrals lead to successful hires. Since introducing the platform, Sussex Grange has achieved 20 successful recruits, with 17 of those still part of the organisation today. More than £17,000 in rewards has been awarded to staff.
But for Sussex Grange, recruitment is only part of the story.
Recognition linked to organisational values
Rather than offering generic recognition, Sussex Grange has built its rewards approach around the values that matter most to the organisation. Staff can receive bonus points when they demonstrate behaviours linked to four core values:
- Be Kind
- Be Respectful
- Treat People as Individuals
- Everyone Matters
Each recognition is linked to a specific action or behaviour, helping colleagues see how their everyday work contributes to the culture and quality of care that Sussex Grange aims to provide.
The organisation also uses bonus points to celebrate other important milestones and contributions. Staff receive rewards for referring people who use services and for reaching work anniversaries, with points awarded for every year of service. Long-serving colleagues with more than a decade of service receive meaningful annual recognition for their loyalty and commitment.
Creating meaningful rewards
One of the strengths of the approach is that employees can choose how they use their rewards. Staff have used their points for everything from family days out and holidays to Christmas presents and personal hobbies.
These rewards help make recognition feel personal and relevant. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, colleagues can use their points in ways that matter most to them and their families.
Building a culture where everyone matters
For Sussex Grange, the platform has become an important part of how the organisation demonstrates appreciation and reinforces its values.
Sophie Hare, Director at Sussex Grange, explains:
Care Friends has become a really valuable part of how we recognise and support our team at Sussex Grange. One of the things we've found most beneficial is being able to tailor the bonus points system around our own company values, so we can recognise colleagues when they go the extra mile and demonstrate the values that make such a difference to the people we support.
We've also used the platform to celebrate work anniversaries, which is a simple but meaningful way of recognising our team's loyalty and commitment over the years. The referral feature has also worked really well for us. Our team can easily share vacancies with people they know, and we've welcomed some fantastic colleagues who already had a good understanding of our values and the high standards of care and support we strive to deliver every day.
Each month, we also enjoy celebrating everyone who has received bonus points on our social media channels, giving our wider community the chance to recognise and celebrate their achievements with us. It reflects one of our core values at Sussex Grange, 鈥楨veryone Matters鈥�, because taking the time to acknowledge individual contributions, big or small, helps people feel valued and appreciated.
By recognising everyday behaviours, celebrating loyalty and making appreciation visible, Sussex Grange has created a culture where people feel seen and valued. Their experience shows that when recognition is meaningful and embedded into daily practice, it can support both recruitment and retention while helping organisations live their values every day.
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