Jersey at the Post Office “Oscars” tonight

Wednesday 18 June 2014

Jersey Post will find out tonight whether they have beaten two of the world’s biggest postal companies to a major international award for their innovative “Call and Check” scheme to get postmen to check in on isolated people in their homes.

The States-owned company (which has almost 400 staff and a turnover of £64 million) is up against two absolute giants in the World Mail Awards: the US Postal Service (626,000 staff, $66 billion revenue) and Deutsche Post DHL (435,000 staff, $55 billion revenue).

All three have been nominated in the Corporate Social Responsibility category in the awards, which are taking place in Germany this evening.

Chief executive Kevin Keen said that the “Call and Check” scheme, under which posties check in on vulnerable people who live on their rounds, had come about after a suggestion by a member of staff during an open project for workers to come up with fresh ideas for the business.

It has now been trialled in St Brelade and a new trial is due to start soon, with the Health department taking a keen interest in the idea.

The member of staff who came up with the plan, Joe Dickinson, is now the project manager for “Call and Check”.

Mr Keen said: “We decided to enter the World Mail Awards, not taking ourselves too seriously, and we have got through to the final.

“When you think about the cost of keeping people in hospital and nursing homes, any little thing could make a big difference.”