In the care sector, doing the right thing has always mattered. It’s becoming more important that providers show they’re doing the right thing for service users, staff, and the community.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is a framework that helps organisations assess their impact on people and the planet. The term sounds corporate, but the principles behind it are already part of everyday life in care. Our partners Citation have put together their tips on ESG and how it can help you think more holistically and proactively about what good care looks like.

Small actions have a big impact

Environmental sustainability and the care sector may seem worlds apart, but care settings can play a role in creating a green future while benefiting from doing so. 

Whether it’s reducing waste, using energy more efficiently, or choosing more sustainable suppliers, environmental actions go hand-in-hand with saving money and having better working conditions. And as inspectors are asking more about sustainability under the CQC’s ‘well-led’ domain, you can't afford to ignore it.

Questions to think about:

• Are appliances and lighting energy efficient?
• Could heating or cooling be controlled better?
• Is using paper essential, or could you use digital processes?
• Are recycling practices consistent across shifts and sites?

You’re not expected to become perfectly green overnight. You just need to show intention and build momentum. 

Supporting people at every level

The ‘social’ part of ESG is all about people. And care providers already shine in this area. Supporting vulnerable adults to creating inclusive, supportive workplaces – care services are social by nature.

ESG encourages everyone to dig a bit deeper. This could mean reviewing how you monitor staff wellbeing, support diversity and inclusion, or act on feedback. Or it might mean looking outside the service at building community links, supporting local causes, or working with suppliers who share your values. 

Areas to reflect on:

• Is there regular, meaningful wellbeing support for staff?
• How do you capture and act on the voices of service users and families?
• Are your policies inclusive and up to date?
  
• Is training in equality, dignity, and communication part of regular development?

If you do it well, the social side of ESG improves culture, helps attract and retain people who care about the bigger picture, and appeals to service users and their families.

Trust through transparency 

You may think of governance as the dry part of ESG, but for care it’s at the heart of quality. Good governance means safe services, sound decision-making, and ethical leadership. And it means being transparent, inclusive, and accountable to your team, regulator, and the people you support.

Governance in ESG also touches on:

• Data protection and cyber security 
• Ethical procurement and recruitment
• Clear, lived-out values that guide decisions

Setting up strong governance practices helps services feel confident under scrutiny and keeps them agile and resilient when change happens.

Making ESG real for care providers

When it comes to ESG, you don’t need to start from scratch, you can start by recognising the good work already happening in your service. And then building on it.

It’s best to start small. Think about one or two changes that could make life easier for staff or better for service users like reducing paper forms or having regular check-ins with staff around wellbeing. Involve your staff in these ideas, too. Ask what changes would make a big difference to their day-to-day work. 

ESG is about showing that your service is committed to doing the right thing and making steady progress. Every small action you take adds up to a bigger impact over time – something you can be proud of.

Citation – here to help you with ESG

Making sense of ESG can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to start from scratch. Citation are always here to help you. Download their guide on CQC frameworks and environmental sustainability for practical steps, ideas, and tools to get started. If you want more support, call them on 0345 844 1111 or visit their website.