Gender Pay Gap Report FY 2022
INTRODUCTION
Riverdale Healthcare is a group of independent dental practices located across England. Following the establishment of the Group in December 2018, we have grown rapidly acquiring 59 practices and a dental laboratory to date. As a group we are now focusing on developing our people processes and policies as well as embedding our values. This activity has included the introduction of a pay structure for our practices, which has rewarded our employees and has addressed pay inequalities in our acquired practices. The benefit of this will continue to be visible in our 2023 report.
OUR VALUES
We Care About People
‘We are kind to each other. We build relationships and support each other’s development to fulfil our aspirations and be happy and engaged.’
‘We have fun together, with a ‘can -do’ attitude, delivering outstanding care to the people in our communities to live life with confident and happy smiles.’
We Practice with Integrity
‘We provide high quality ethical dental care. We believe in giving choice to both our patients and our clinicians.’
‘We are open and honest and always act with integrity. We commit to always do the right thing, for our people, patients, communities and the environment.’
We Like Different
‘We embrace individuality. We are diverse and inclusive and want the unique character of our practices to shine through, just like an extended family.’
‘We listen to each other, giving everyone a voice. We respect each other’s opinions, learn from each other, creating an environment for our teams to flourish.’
WHAT IS GENDER PAY GAP?
The gender pay gap is the difference between the average (mean or median) earnings of men and women across a workforce. Since 2017, employers with a headcount of 250 or more must comply with regulations on gender pay gap reporting. This requires employers to annually report and publish specific data about their gender pay gap from the defined snapshot date which is the 5th of April.
2022 GENDER PAY GAP DATA
No bonus payments were made in 2022
PROPORTION OF WOMEN IN EACH PAY QUARTILE
WHY A GENDER PAY GAP EXISITS AT RIVERDALE
Most of our practice employees are women where we do not have a gender pay gap. We also operate an Apprentice programme in our practices who begin their careers on a lower rate of pay with an increase upon qualifying.
Our support and operational roles across Riverdale typically attract a higher rate of pay. Riverdale supports career progression for our practice employees into support and operational roles.
OUR COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE OUR GENDER PAY GAP
Women are represented at senior management level. Since the last report we have recruited a female People and Culture Director and a female Operations Director.
Nurse pay has been increased at a higher % compared to our support and operational teams and we have introduced some additional Nurse levels offering career pathway. As our Nurse Cohort are predominantly women, we will continue to see the benefits of these initiatives in future reports.
We are committed to encourage and facilitate career progression via internal applications for operational and central support roles.
Apprenticeship Spotlight – Jennifer McClelland
With National Apprenticeship Week taking place from 6th to 12th February 2023, we caught up with Riverdale’s very own HR Apprentice, Jennifer McClelland, to find out more about what undertaking an apprenticeship means to her and why Riverdale Healthcare.
Why did you choose to do an HR apprenticeship?
I love learning new skills and broadening my knowledge. Apprenticeships are the perfect way to not only gain the knowledge but put it into practice and keep learning and building on your skills.
Taking an apprenticeship was also the perfect opportunity for a change, I didn’t want to feel stuck in a “job”, I wanted a career I could be proud of and progress in. I love the flexibility that comes with the apprenticeship, being able to work whilst learning at my pace.
Why Riverdale Healthcare?
I was really attracted to Riverdale Healthcare as it is a relatively young business, growing at a fast pace, which means I have the opportunity to grow alongside it and am excited by all the opportunities and input I can have. Riverdale’s values also stand out to me, and they really come through and can be felt throughout the business. I feel very lucky to have found a business who cares about their employees. I have had so much support across the group already and have felt very welcomed by every member of staff I have met.
What do I love about it most?
I have loved feeling valued amongst the team, even whilst still being new and learning, I feel like my opinion is valued and respected. I have loved meeting and talking to colleagues in the group, building connections with them, especially my closer team who have supported me so much already. I always come away feeling accomplished with my day and that my efforts have been appreciated within my team.
What would you say to others thinking about doing an apprenticeship with us?
What have you got to lose! It has been my best career decision in the last 10 years, and most importantly I love coming into work and actually look forward to Monday!
Here at Riverdale Healthcare, we are proud of the apprenticeship opportunities we provide. We help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, both clinically or in our many support functions, whilst developing a talented workforce that is equipped with skills for the future.
Keep an eye on our vacancies page for the latest apprenticeship opportunities as they arise.
Riverdale supports team members on the back of rising costs
At Riverdale, we regularly refer to our company values as they underpin everything that we do. But we are always mindful that we demonstrate these values, and that they don’t become just words.
Our ‘we care about people’ value is not only about the patients we treat, but the people that treat them too. We understand that the current cost challenges are causing real concern among households – even placing fuel in the car to get to work can be difficult for some.
That is why Riverdale are pleased to announce that we will be paying all our team members a one-off winter ‘cost of living’ support payment of an extra £100 per month for the next six months! A little bit extra to help with where our team members may need it the most.
Speaking of the gesture, CEO Emma Barnes said, “As a business we are fully aware of the difficulties that many people are facing when it comes to the current cost of living, therefore it means a lot that we can support our team members and recognise their hard work at the same time through these additional payments.”
The support payment forms one of several initiatives that are in place within Riverdale, including the Employee Assistance Programme; provided in partnership with Health Assured. The free service provides 24/7 access to completely confidential free advice on a range of issues from stress & anxiety to financial wellbeing, and is there to support all team members, especially during the current difficult times.
Gender Pay Gap Report FY 2021
INTRODUCTION
Riverdale Healthcare is a group of independent dental practices located in the North of England and Cambridge. Following the establishment of the Group in December 2018, we have grown rapidly acquiring 35 practices and a dental laboratory to date, with on-going acquisition planned. As a group we are now focusing on developing our people processes and policies as well as embedding our values. This activity has included the introduction of a pay structure for our practices, which has rewarded our employees and has addressed pay inequalities in our acquired practices. The benefit of this will be visible in our 2022 report.
OUR VALUES
We Care About People
‘We are kind to each other. We build relationships and support each other’s development to fulfil our aspirations and be happy and engaged.’
‘We have fun together, with a ‘can -do’ attitude, delivering outstanding care to the people in our communities to live life with confident and happy smiles.’
We Practice with Integrity
‘We provide high quality ethical dental care. We believe in giving choice to both our patients and our clinicians.’
‘We are open and honest and always act with integrity. We commit to always do the right thing, for our people, patients, communities and the environment.’
We Like Different
‘We embrace individuality. We are diverse and inclusive and want the unique character of our practices to shine through, just like an extended family.’
‘We listen to each other, giving everyone a voice. We respect each other’s opinions, learn from each other, creating an environment for our teams to flourish.’
WHAT IS GENDER PAY GAP?
The gender pay gap is the difference between the average (mean or median) earnings of men and women across a workforce. Since 2017, employers with a headcount of 250 or more must comply with regulations on gender pay gap reporting. This requires employers to annually report and publish specific data about their gender pay gap from the defined snapshot date which is the 5th of April.
2021 GENDER PAY GAP DATA
| Mean Gender Pay Gap | Median Gender Pay Gap |
| 59.53% | 55.90% |
| On average for every £1 a man earns a women will earn 40p
|
When using the median for every £1 a man earns a women will earn 44p |
| Mean Gender Pay Gap – Bonus Pay | Median Gender Pay Gap – Bonus Pay |
| –21.21% | 0.00% |
| On average for every £1 a man receives in bonus pay a women will earn £1.21 | When using the median men and women are paid the same bonus pay |
| Percentage of men and women receiving bonus pay | |
| Men 32.1% | Women 16.5% |
PROPORTION OF WOMEN IN EACH PAY QUARTILE
| Upper Quartile | Upper Middle Quartile | Lower Middle Quartile | Lower Quartile |
| Male 24%
Female 76% |
Male 3%
Female 97% |
Male 1%
Female 99% |
Male 0%
Female 100% |
WHY A GENDER PAY GAP EXISITS AT RIVERDALE
Most of our practice employees are women where we do not have a gender pay gap. We also operate an Apprentice programme in our practices who begin their careers on a lower rate of pay with an increase upon qualifying.
Our support and operational roles across Riverdale typically attract a higher rate of pay. Riverdale supports career progression for our practice employees into support and operational roles.
OUR COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE OUR GENDER PAY GAP
Women are well represented at senior management level. We have a female Chief Executive Officer, and all of our operational team are female. Our next report will also show additional females that have joined the executive level and senior central support roles.
Since the 2021 snapshot date we have increased Nurse pay (which are predominantly women) at a higher % compared to our support and operational teams reducing the gender pay gap.
We will continue to encourage career progression via internal applications for operational and central support roles.
Genuinely proud to be part of the team
Chris Aylward explains what sets Riverdale Healthcare apart from other dental groups.
Every group will say they are different to the rest: that they aren’t a typical corporate, that they offer clinical freedom, that they are nicer people to work for.
And why wouldn’t they? I say exactly the same thing! Each group is focused on growth. To do that, they need to convince you that they are the best option for you.
So, let’s break this down and talk about Riverdale Healthcare.
We are not a corporate
The word corporate has a bad press in the dental industry. It’s a negative term that implies a focus on process, protocol and standardisation. Rather than the people and what they can do for the business. For many companies this is inevitable. Once growth becomes significant, having more uniform, aligned groups of practices is much easier to manage.
At Riverdale Healthcare, we are very clear that we are a group of individual dental practices. Each practice is different, much like extended families; each have their own successes and challenges, each with its own character.
Our support team recognise the importance of our colleagues in practice, the dedicated professionals who are making it possible for the people in our communities to live life with confident, healthy smiles. The support team focus on how they can make life easier in the practice so the teams can focus on delivering exceptional patient care by tailoring systems to meet the needs of the practice.
We offer clinical freedom
We seek to provide high quality, ethical dental care. Key to this is providing choice to both our patients and clinicians. We believe clinical freedom is not only enabling personal laboratory and material choice but through communication.
Working together as multi-disciplinary teams, supporting each other, developing skills, mentoring colleagues, cultivating an environment which encourages personal and professional growth.
Clinical freedom at Riverdale Healthcare is core to our purpose of fostering a happy, ‘can-do’ team that goes above and beyond for each other and our patients.
We are nice people
I am genuinely proud to be part of Riverdale Healthcare. Everyone who is part of the team has the same passion and commitment for becoming the best independent group we can be. Always with the best interests of our colleagues and patients at the heart of everything we do.
We work together, in collaboration, to find better ways of doing things.
Dentistry is a fulfilling and valuable career. It plays a crucial role in a healthy community.
We understand that without a happy team, we will lose people, waste talent, and underperform. Without gaining our team’s trust, acting responsibly, ethically and caring for our people, we will fail in our mission to serve our patients.
Our teams have fun delivering outstanding care to the people in our community. We want them to enjoy their work and the relationships they build every day. We want them to fulfil their personal aspirations, be developed, rewarded and achieve a genuine work-life balance.
They’re proud to work in a team that goes above and beyond for each other and our patients, that is respected in the community because of the contribution it makes, and the responsibility it takes to protect the environment and care for its people.
The decision to sell your practice is probably one of the biggest steps that you will take. Certainly in your professional life.
You should take it over a period of time once you have gathered all of the information that you need to make that decision. Your head and your heart must agree and then you can feel confident to progress.
At Riverdale Healthcare, we fully understand this huge step that you are taking. We have the knowledge, expertise and experience gained over many years to help and support you through this. So that the end result is great for both of us.
Image and article as featured in Dentistry Magazine
