Following a period of organisational renewal, Sunnyfield's focus shifted from systems and structures to culture and behaviour. With more than 2,000 employees delivering disability services across multiple locations, service types and communities, they faced a key challenge: how to create a consistent experience for clients when the people delivering that experience come from different backgrounds, speak different languages and work in different environments?
The challenge was heightened by increasing expectations across the disability sector following the Royal Commission, placing greater emphasis on accountability, quality of care and the lived experience of clients.
While Sunnyfield had a proud history, committed people and a clear ambition for the future, different teams had different ways of thinking, behaving and delivering support. The challenge was to create a shared culture, language, and set of behaviours that every employee could understand, embrace, and bring to life every day: regardless of role, location, or background.
I discovered that a common culture requires a common language. With more than 2,000 employees working across different services, locations and cultural backgrounds, people often had different ways of understanding what good support looked like and how it should be delivered.
I also discovered that many employees did not speak English as their first language. Any culture that unites Sunnyfield would need to be expressed in a common language that connected purpose, behaviour and performance in a way people could easily understand and apply.
I developed a culture strategy, language, and behavioural framework designed to align culture, leadership and performance around a single idea: One Sunnyfield. At the heart of the work was a common language that connected purpose, behaviour and performance. Giving employees a clear understanding of what Sunnyfield stands for and how that should be reflected in their day-to-day behaviour.
The work included purpose, culture assets, creed, behaviours, manifesto, employee value proposition, tagline, communication framework, performance integration and a practical Culture Toolbox designed to embed the culture throughout the employee experience.
Every element was intentionally simple, human and actionable, making it easier for employees to understand, embrace and apply. Regardless of role, location or background.
The culture strategy was presented to Sunnyfield's executive leadership team and received unanimous support.
The language, frameworks, and cultural assets have been embraced by the organisation and are now being embedded across the business through leadership, communication, performance, and employee experience initiatives.
