How a diverse Tameside team brings “We Care” to life every day
At Millbrook Healthcare, diversity isn’t a checkbox – it’s the energy source that powers our promise to help people live safer, fuller, more independent lives at home. Our recent short-listing in the Pride of Tameside Awards (Childcare / Social Care Business of the Year) shines a welcome light on that work, but the real story belongs to the 45 local colleagues whose different backgrounds and experiences turn equipment deliveries into moments of genuine care for 630 Tameside residents.
Why an inclusive workforce matters to independent living
- Lived experience drives better service
More than 44 % of our Tameside team live with a long-term health condition or disability. That perspective not only informs service design – it helps service users feel recognised and understood the moment we arrive at their door. - Removing barriers opens doors for all
Our recruitment programme actively welcomes people with sensory challenges, neurodiversity, long-term unemployment, ex-offenders and care-leavers. Routes to Work placements give disabled residents supported roles that build confidence and skills. - Spaces that work for everybody
Our local facility is fully Disability Access Audit compliant, and we review it regularly to ensure colleagues and visitors experience a genuinely inclusive environment.
Everyday impact – beyond the numbers
Over the past 12 months our diverse team has:
- Delivered 13,000+ pieces of equipment that kept people out of hospital or enabled safe, timely discharge.
- Recycled 8,000 items – saving the local authority substantial costs while reducing carbon footprint.
- Supported local foodbanks with volunteer hours and donations, extending We Care beyond our day-to-day roles.
One family beautifully summed up how our work impacts real lives:
“[Paul] treated our mum and her visitor with the utmost dignity, respect and understanding, and even made her laugh. Thank you so much for the help and support which enabled our mum’s wishes – to pass away at home – to be fulfilled.”
Recognition that reflects our people, not our trophy cabinet
Being nominated for the Pride of Tameside Award validates the inclusive culture our team has built – but winning awards has never been the goal. Instead, the nomination reminds us that a workforce mirroring the community it serves can:
- Spot obstacles others miss – because someone on the team has lived them.
- Innovate empathetically – turning insight into better equipment choices and faster turn-arounds.
- Strengthen local confidence – showing that good jobs, career progression and supportive policies exist right here in Tameside.
“We Care” starts with We
Our brand manifesto repeats a simple truth: “Millbrook Healthcare. We care.” It isn’t marketing rhetoric; it’s the lived commitment of colleagues whose own stories mirror those of the residents and professionals they help.
What's next
- Deepen partnerships with community organisations to widen recruitment pipelines.
- Expand mentoring so colleagues with disabilities can coach new starters and co-design service improvements.
- Share more voices to keep diversity visible on all our channels.
Because when every employee can bring their whole self to work, every service user receives the whole of our care.
Millbrook Healthcare – We Care, because we are Millbrook.
