Social Care in Action is a successful, not-for-profit group of social enterprises focused on health and wellbeing. We have over 30 years experience, working in local communities and meeting the needs of local people.
Social Care in Action delivers care, counselling, transport and wellbeing services. As a social enterprise we reinvest any profit back into our services to ensure that we can continue to support our local communities.
We provide services across Southern England, focused in areas of disadvantage and providing rewarding jobs for our staff and volunteers.
Our services are a mix of publicly commissioned services and those directly purchased by local people.
We involve our communities in setting our priorities and evaluating our impact. We listen carefully to their ideas on what we should do next. We take an enhanced quality and governance approach.
The Social Care in Action Mission:
“By turning caring into action, we provide health and wellbeing services for the communities we serve, helping people live lifestyles they can enjoy, with support when it’s needed.”
The Group is founded upon values that reflect the importance of treating everyone with whom we interact with thoughtfulness, kindness, dignity and respect. Our intention is always to place the priorities and wishes of those who need and use our services at the heart of what we do.
The Social Care in Action Vision:
“To create positive change in our society, so everyone lives a fulfilled life..”
Our Values:
- Respectful– we value the people we work with, those who need and use our services, partner organisations, volunteers and staff- treating them with kindness and dignity
- Collaborative– we will embrace, promote and foster partnerships to deliver our services in the most inclusive way for individuals we serve
- Customer-focussed– people who are in need of our services and support are at the heart of our policies, planning and support
- Trusted– we maintain trust by acting with honesty and integrity, taking responsibility and accountability for our actions
- Pioneering– we strive to be innovative in our thinking and lead the way in the social care sector.
Our History:
Social Care in Action was established in 1991 as a not-for-profit Industrial and Provident Society – Southampton Care Association. Under the leadership of Brian Strevens it delivered the community transport service in Southampton and then diversified, developing a care division in response to the Community Care Act. The care division grew, delivering home care services in East Hampshire and the New Forest, and for a period of time, the Bournemouth and Poole areas. In the 30 years since its inception, the Social Care in Action Group has delivered a diverse range of services, and from 2005, delivered NHS Dentistry from 7 practices across the South.
In 2008, Social Care in Action went into partnership with the Fenwick Hospital League of Friends and with a Pathfinder grant refurbished the community hospital and re-opened it as a community enterprise with the aim of providing health and wellbeing services to the local community.
In 2016 Social Care in Action worked with the Friends of Cobbett Road Library, and Unexpected Places, a local drama group, to save Cobbett Road Library in Southampton from closure. It has re-opened as Cobbett Hub and Library with the aim of it becoming a focus of activity for the local community as well as maintaining the library service in this part of Southampton.
In 2016 Social Care in Action worked with Options Health and Wellbeing Trust to bring them into the wider Social Care in Action group. This move secured the future of Options, who provide vital counselling services across the South of England whilst fitting with the aims of Social Care in Action.
During 2019, Social Care in Action also welcomed The Steven James Practice (SJP) into the SCiA Group. This addition to the Group both secured the future of SJP, who provide specialist counselling services across the South West of England, and increased the social impact of the Group in new territories.
Social Care in Action Registered Charity in England and Wales number 1096903.