domestic worker

support worker

housing assistant

joiner

administrator

The-Calico-Group

I was transferred over from my previous employer and I left Calico soon after.  I must say that I have never been so relieved to have left an employer.  It is not what you know but who you know that counts at Calico.  They are an organisation run on Nepotism and if you have friends or family at Calico then you will climb the career ladder in no time.  Most managers are promoted way beyond their capabilities.
When they won the Floating Housing Support contract Calico were just utterly ill-prepared for the contract which just ended up being an absolute farce which is why I left.  The contract was only for 2 years with funding coming to an end anyway so I could never comprehend why the commissioners changed the service provider to Calico causing such an upheaval?  Clearly managers were very excited about winning this contract and never seemed to agree with my opinion and just stampeded into with blinker eyes.  Staff left in droves and bank staff were brought in to fill the gap towards the end of the contract.
It is also worth noting that they started off as a Housing Association in Burnley a few years ago and since then have expanded a lot in recent years providing various other services.  From substance misuse to refuges, education to engineering to name just a few.  Clearly they have become vastly overconfident thinking they can pretty much do anything.  As the old saying goes - fingers in too many pies.
Headoffice is also based in the gorgeous town of Burnley and the services provided now cover a vast amount of the northwest.  All the attention and hidden friendships are based in Burnley though and if you are not from Burnley then you feel left out.
You will also hear terms such as "Social Profit" being talked it.  What that means is that all services provided are dependent one thing......Funding.  What I have come to realise is that in life throwing money at all of life's social ills is not the answer and money does not always buy happiness in life.   
To summarise Calico is an organisation which is vastly overconfident and where Nepotism is rife.  I must say that since leaving Calico I have never had such serenity and peace of mind.

I must say that I have never been so relieved to leave an employer. Calico is an organisation run on nepotism, it is not what you know but who you know that counts.
I was transferred over from my original employer and Calico were utterly Ill-prepared for the new contract. It ended up being a farce which is why I left and I have never been so happy with my new employer.
A few middle managers are ok but most were promoted way beyond their capabilities. 
It is also worth noting the started off as a social landlord a few years back. Since then they have expanded vastly throughout the north west providing various other services. The have become hugely over confident thinking they can do anything. From substance misuse to education, from furniture to refuges Calico can do it. They quality of service is questionable.
Head office is in Burnley where there is a lot of hidden  friendships and if you are not from Burnley you feel left out.
You will hear the words "social profit" being brandished around. What they are that means is that everything boils down to one thing - funding. Throwing money at life's social ills is not the answer.
In summary Calico is run on nepostism where ability counts for nothing. I must say that since leaving them I have never had such serenity and peace of mind.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Being left to your job role with no one looking over your shoulder.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Being told to go off on your own with no experience of the job role. Not enough hours for the work given. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Laid back with an obvious click. If you’re off with stress due to the job or anything mental health related don’t expect any support. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Make you own diary, go on visits to customers sometimes with violate criminal records that you are not told about. Get told to google anything you don’t know.. and don’t expect any help if you tell them you have a life changing illness, plus don’t expect a thank you for your hard work if you must leave because of your life changing illness.

At first my experience was positive and I think it was due to my manger (singular) who was also thrown in the deep end at a very stressful time for the country. I was a new starter and placed on a team that wasn't Calico with no direction,  training, experience or support. Again the pressure of the country was a big factor in this but I never once stepped foot in the main office. After some management changes the atmosphere within the team became very toxic very fast and more of the company mentality started to show through. The company prides itself on supporting those with mental health and various other issues yet fails to fully support staff members. The contracts are a constant worry due to the way Blackpool funding is designated but, the company could do more to make these contacts more secure. Wages matched the local average though still not enough to meet best living standards.  

A typical day at work would involve working on the Telephone and talking to clients, collecting information to fill out on initial screening forms. I would also file forms into folders, create folders, call clients, answer telephones and filling information onto the database onto the computer.
 I learned how to ask question to clients through the telephone correctly, i also learned office work in general.
my management were very nice and understanding and give me all the help and training i needed. my co-workers were very nice and they helped me by teaching me how to talk to clients, fill in initial screenings and use the database.
The most enjoyable part of the job was meeting co-workers and helping client with issues.

calico likes to preach that they have good values and take care of there work force , in reality , they want the job doing as quickly and cheaply as possible .
they have a lot of trainees , which is good , but they are made to do the work of tradesmen and calico have realised that the more trainees they have , the less tradesmen they need or so they think , within the painting department , there is a lot of backstabbing and everyone blames everyone else for thing that are wrong , if your not from burnley you are made to feel left out , nobody seems to have any pride in there work , its just a case of get it done , if its wrong we will blame someone else and we'll just go onto the next job and let someone else sort the mess out

This Company is Flexible with the Workforce, Responsive to individual needs at Home and family.
It's approach to Staff is also reflected in Line manager responses, also
that they are prepared to consider Staff  requests.
During the recent Pandemic they, as a company, talked to Staff, offered options and variations of options to try and meet everyone's needs.
I have been genuinely surprised that the company's ethos is seen in the work and interest of almost everybody I met in the Company.
I would recommend this Company as an example of how an employer can support, encourage and develop their Staff


No two days are the same, any the days just fly by  as you are engaged in your work and really making a difference. 
The Learning and Development package is great - best I've experienced. 
The management structure is solid and has strong leaders who really care about you and your work. 
They have a strong culture of staff well being and benefits (eg health insurance). 
The hardest part of the job is not enough hours in the day but I personally thrive in this environment. 
Love coming to work and making a difference to peoples lives. 
 

This used to be one of the best companies to work for, it is now one of the worst. Every longstanding, exemplary and hardworking staff member has either been made "redundant" (to be replaced by an identical role, on lower pay), or driven out by bullying managers and excessive demands. Morale is rock bottom, there is no job security, and management are appalling. Your thoughts and feelings are never considered and you are treated dreadfully. Avoid at all costs.

Varied role. Good benefits and pension when I left 9 years ago. However there is limited scope to progress and if you work there, leave, and try to go back, having progressed elsewhere, you’re not welcomed back even if you worked a 3 month notice period when you didn’t need to. 

I handled 95% of helpdesk cases, with 99% plus case satisfaction. Left to gain leadership and field skills. Dismissed outright for similar vacancy.

Values not always lived. Lip service.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Domestic worker 1 salary reported	£27,500 per year
Support worker 11 salaries reported	£24,262 per year
Housing assistant 1 salary reported	£24,638 per year
Joiner 6 salaries reported	£32,307 per year
Administrator 5 salaries reported	£22,922 per year

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