Our values and the Swindon Commitment

Our values: We see, We hear, We care, We act, We learn

Our values shape how we work for the people of Swindon. They guide how we make decisions, how we deliver services and how we work with our communities and partners.

Our values are:

  • We see people, not problems - and stay curious to understand their story
  • We hear each other and the people we serve
  • We care about our colleagues, our residents and our community
  • We act with integrity, accountability and purpose
  • We learn from data, feedback and experience so we keep improving

These five values describe the standards we hold ourselves to as a Council, and what residents and partners can expect from us.

The Swindon Commitment

The Swindon Commitment shows how we bring our values to life every day, in every role, across all that we do. It turns our values into practical promises between the Council, our colleagues and the people we serve so we can work together to deliver the best possible services and support.

Created with colleagues from across the organisation, the Swindon Commitment sets out a shared understanding of how we work, lead and behave. Rooted in our five core values, it reflects how we listen to, include and respond to residents, communities and each other.

We See.

We see people, not problems - and stay curious to understand their story.

Being at our best as a Council

We will:

  • Use insight to spot issues early and understand our resident’s whole story
  • Bring teams together around a shared purpose so everyone sees how their work helps residents
  • Support leaders to be visible and accessible

Being at my best as a colleague

I will:

  • Use insight and feedback from colleagues and residents to understand the bigger picture
  • Look beyond my team and link my work to our shared purpose
  • Spot and raise issues early

We Hear.

We hear each other and the people we serve.

Being at our best as a Council

We will:

  • Listen and act on feedback so every voice counts
  • Reach out to hear from everyone, not just the loudest
  • Make it easy for people to have honest conversations and speak up

Being at my best as a colleague

I will:

  • Listen with respect and curiosity
  • Give and receive feedback kindly and constructively
  • Speak up when something isn’t right

We Care.

We care about our colleagues, our residents and our community.

Being at our best as a Council

We will:

  • Create a workplace where wellbeing, inclusion and respect underpin how we work and how we care for residents, those we support and colleagues
  • Offer chances for everyone to learn and grow
  • Foster an environment that values people and strengthens connection across teams

Being at my best as a colleague

I will:

  • Treat residents and colleagues with kindness and respect
  • Look after my own wellbeing and support others to do the same
  • Take responsibility for my learning and career development

We Act.

We act with integrity, accountability and purpose.

Being at our best as a Council

We will:

  • Work in ways that put residents, colleagues and partners at the heart of how we do things
  • Be open about decisions and why we’ve made them
  • Show our values through our actions and take responsibility if we don’t get it right
  • Be proud ambassadors for Swindon, celebrating what our town and our colleagues achieve every day, sharing our story beyond our borough

Being at my best as a colleague

I will:

  • Put residents first and focus on solutions
  • Be where I’m needed most - for residents and my team
  • Take responsibility for results and use resources wisely
  • Be an ambassador for Swindon and the Council, speaking positively about where I work and the difference we make

We Learn.

We learn from data, feedback and experience so we keep improving.

Being at our best as a Council

We will:

  • Stay curious, share knowledge and learn from others
  • Reflect on what works and what doesn’t
  • Turn learning into action that makes a difference

Being at my best as a colleague

I will:

  • Use what I learn to make a real difference for residents
  • Keep learning and share what I discover, while staying open to new ideas
  • Reflect on what works (and what doesn’t) so I can keep improving