Community Integrated Care has introduced an optional four-day week for head office and support function staff, in an effort to offer workers more flexibility. 

The offer, currently available to over 300 employees across various departments, involves condensing employees' normal hours into four days and taking Monday or Friday off. The charity has expressed interest in expanding this offer to its 6,000 frontline care workers. 

Based in Widnes, Lancashire, Community Integrated Care has an income of £130m, making it one of the biggest social care charities in the country.

The changes come following a survey of staff conducted by management, which found that 82% liked the idea of a four-day week. 

Teresa Exelby, chief people officer at Community Integrated Care, said: “Our colleagues have shown us how well they have adapted to a remote and hybrid working approach over the past 18 months, so we’re thrilled that we’re able to build on these successes as we navigate our way through the post-pandemic workplace.

“Listening to our workforce is hugely important to us and it’s clear that employee expectation for a flexible approach has altered dramatically in recent months. This move has been built with our colleague’s voices at the heart of it, giving them the freedom to choose and build their own ways of working.”

The charity also hopes that hybrid working would make it attractive to prospective employees, as well as improving overall productivity.

Exelby added: “Our hope is that by ensuring that our colleagues can achieve a positive and healthy work-life balance, this will in turn boost the wellbeing and productivity of our workforce. Ultimately, our main goal is that this all leads to us delivering the best lives possible for the people we support.”