Team members being presented with the Investor in People Quality award

Ashwater was awarded the Investor in People quality standard in March 2001, the first dental practice in Wokingham and surrounding area to achieve this prestigious award.

The Investor in People accreditation is a national quality standard awarded to organisations that are committed to developing their people and that follow best practice in their business. It was started in 1990 with research into what makes an organisation successful and was driven by a partnership between leading businesses and organisations such as the CBI and TUC. There is a tough independent assessment that looks at performance over a number of years.

Ashwater was awarded the standard for its record since it was established. The assessor was particularly impressed with the practice's policy of employing unqualified, mature support staff - mothers returning to work. All of its nurses qualified with the practice, and have gone on to gain further qualifications, such as the Oral Health Educator and Practice manager qualifications.

The practice has found that investing in people develops a team with a shared goal. Patients expect better levels of service than ever before - continuing education and a focus on best practice has helped to Ashwater to respond. Investing in staff invests in patients too.

The team was awarded its Investors in People plaque at a ceremony organised by Thames Valley Business Link at Henley-on-Thames.