Mission, Vision and Values
At First Steps, our mission, vision and values are the core aspect of what drives our work and our service delivery
Mission Statement
To make a positive and meaningful impact for children, families and community, through excellent childcare, staffing and support services. Children are at heart of all we do.
Vision
In five years’ time, First Steps Enterprise Limited will increase its recruitment agency services five-fold and operate new nurseries in new key strategic locations. It will seek to provide employability services. Its overall net profit will increase each year. Furthermore, it will be known for these three services being of a high-quality value, placing children and families at the very heart of its services
Our Values
NURTURE
Nurture gives people the support they need.
What Nurture Means
We create safe, secure and supportive environments where people feel valued and respected. Through compassionate and caring relationships, we help children, families, colleagues, candidates, customers and partners develop confidence, wellbeing and a sense of belonging.
Nurture means taking time to listen, supporting one another, sharing information openly and creating positive experiences that help people thrive. We recognise that everyone is on their own journey, and we strive to ensure every interaction leaves people feeling supported and encouraged.
What staff said Nurture looks like
- ✓Safe and secure
- ✓Compassionate and caring relationships
- ✓Fun learning
- ✓Being happy in the environment
- ✓Happy families
- ✓Sharing information
- ✓Supportive colleagues
- ✓Supporting each other
Nurture is not
- ✗Negative attitudes
- ✗Bullying
- ✗Poor attitudes
- ✗Being closed off to others
COMMUNITY
Community gives people a sense of belonging.
What Community Means
We believe that positive outcomes are achieved together. We build strong relationships with families, employers, partners, commissioners, colleagues and the communities we serve.
Community means creating opportunities for people to connect, grow and access the support they need. We celebrate diversity, recognise individual strengths and encourage participation so that everyone feels valued and included.
Whether we are supporting a child, helping someone into employment, recruiting for a client or delivering community services, we work collaboratively to make a lasting difference.
What staff said Community looks like
- ✓Cultural capital
- ✓Adding value
- ✓Signposting families and individuals to support
- ✓Parent champions
- ✓Peer support opportunities
- ✓Celebrations
- ✓Teamwork
- ✓Being supportive
- ✓Being calm
- ✓Being respectful
Community is not
- ✗Discrimination
- ✗Excluding others
- ✗Working against each other
- ✗Disrespectful behaviour
SECURE
Secure gives people confidence and trust.
What Secure Means
We create trusted environments where people feel safe, supported and confident. We do this through consistency, professionalism, strong relationships and clear expectations.
Secure means delivering high-quality services that people can rely on. It means taking ownership, being accountable for our actions and working together to achieve the best outcomes. We understand that trust is built over time and maintained through reliability, honesty and teamwork.
For children, families, candidates, customers and colleagues, being secure means knowing that support will be there when it is needed.
What staff said Secure looks like
- ✓Safe and supportive environments
- ✓Strong key relationships
- ✓Consistent routines and approaches
- ✓Ownership and accountability
- ✓Enabling environments
- ✓Happy and confident individuals
- ✓Evident progression and development
- ✓Strong relationships between staff and families
- ✓Happy and healthy colleagues
- ✓Teamwork
Secure is not
- ✗Inconsistent practice
- ✗Poor communication
- ✗Lack of ownership
- ✗Unreliable support
INSPIRE
Inspire gives people the courage to grow.
What Inspire Means
We encourage people to believe in themselves, realise their potential and achieve more than they thought possible. We maintain high expectations and create opportunities for learning, growth and success.
Inspiring others means leading by example, building confidence, celebrating achievements and recognising effort. We understand that encouragement, enthusiasm and positive role modelling can have a lasting impact on children, families, colleagues, candidates and the wider community.
We challenge ourselves to keep improving, embrace change and continuously look for better ways to make a difference.
What staff said Inspire looks like
- ✓High expectations
- ✓Enjoyment of learning
- ✓Confidence
- ✓Supportive relationships
- ✓Good role models
- ✓A united team
- ✓Enthusiasm
- ✓Praise and encouragement
- ✓Happy and healthy development
- ✓Positive behaviour
Inspire is not
- ✗Negativity
- ✗Being overly critical
- ✗Dismissive attitudes
- ✗Resistance to positive change
- ✗Not asking for help when it is needed
- ✗Poor communication