Risedale Nursing Homes signs recognition agreement with the RCN

The agreement, signed in early June, enables the RCN to represent employees across all Risedale Nursing Homes sites. This includes the ability to negotiate on a range of employment matters such as pay, benefits, health and safety, and organisational change.

The milestone was marked by a visit to Risedale’s training centre in Barrow-in-Furness by Northern Regional Director Peta Clark alongside RCN Senior National Officer and independent sector lead Clare Jacobs. During the visit to formalise the new partnership, Peta and Claire met with Risedale’s Group Director of Nursing, Barbara Johnson and other senior managers including the training manager.

Recognition agreements are seen as beneficial and important to both employers and employees, helping to streamline communication, centralise negotiations and ensure staff voices are heard. This, in turn, can lead to improved staff engagement, as well as stronger recruitment and retention.

Risedale Nursing Homes operates across four sites in Aldingham and Barrow, providing nursing and dementia care, as well as specialist support for individuals with complex care needs and behavioural challenges. The organisation currently offers 295 beds and employs around 550 staff.

Welcoming the agreement, RCN Northern Regional Director Peta Clark said:

“We’re delighted to have signed this agreement with Risedale Nursing Homes.

"It shows a willingness to work with the RCN to ensure that staff are represented and their voice heard at the highest level.

"The most successful organisations are those that work closely with unions. Staff, senior managers and patients at Risedale will benefit as a result.”

As part of the next steps, the RCN is working with Risedale Nursing Homes to recruit new union representatives, including stewards as well as safety and learning representatives across all sites.