Social Care Top 30 2023
Nadra Ahmed CBE, Chair, National, Care Association
Nadra’s background is in training and education, which has been the passion that drives her towards quality services, underpinned and provided by a skilled and valued workforce. She has been the Chairman of NCA since 2001 and is a trustee of Royal British Legion Industries and Governor at Canterbury Christchurch University. She is also the Co-Convenor of the Cavendish Coalition, formed to work with the NHS and Unison to support workforce issues in Health and Social Care. She is currently the Chair of the Care Provider Alliance which brings together 11 national representative bodies in the sector.
James Allen, Chief Executive Officer, National Care Group
James’ leadership has driven the National Care Group (NCG) to become established as a real force in the care sector. Its 2022/23 growth strategy successfully delivered two new residential services for people with complex needs in the southwest and the development of new supported living schemes. Supported by James’ experience and expertise, NCG benefits from a culture of well-being to support its 2,400 colleagues working in over 250 settings. NCG was one of the first organisations to invest in mental health awareness training for managers and has recently pledged to reimburse the costs of HRT prescriptions amongst other menopause support initiatives.
Gillian Ashcroft, Chief Executive Officer, Exceptional Care and Think Tank Academy
Gill Ashcroft is an entrepreneur on a mission. Among many successful business ventures, she founded Exceptional Care and Think Tank Academy, which provide childcare services and Health and Social Care training. For Gill, business has always been about purpose over profit. She yearned to make a real difference, and after researching children’s care providers, she found her calling. In 2014, she founded Exceptional Care to give vulnerable children the love and support they deserve. Exceptional Care now has 10 homes and growing and has transformed hundreds of lives. Think Tank Academy shares Exceptional Care’s mission to empower excellence in care.
Craig Atkin, Managing Director, Support 4 Independence Ltd
My names Craig and I created Support 4 Independence in 2009 with the vison to create an all-inclusive service for vulnerable adults. As the business has grown, so have I continuously improved to become a better version, a better leader.
By working together as one team and building a positive culture we have worked through the pandemic and at all times ensured the safety and well-being of my team and those we support. I believe in leading from the front and don’t ask others to do what you’re not prepared to do yourself whilst constantly developing everyone around you.
Lucy Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, Right at Home UK
Lucy Campbell, CEO of award-winning Right at Home UK has experience of both franchising and senior level business management. Her innovative business growth through strategic vision and transformative leadership has earned her the trust and respect from her peers in the wider health and social care sector.
Adept at fostering high-performance teams she believes that quality is at the heart of everything. She is a strong advocate for innovation, with industry expertise and forward-thinking insights leading with compassion through complex, unprecedented changes. Lucy is passionate about driving organisational success and making a positive impact in the care sector.
Sophie Chester-Glyn, Director, CoProduce Care
Sophie is managing director of a care organisation supporting adults with disabilities since the 1990s. In 2019 she set up Coproduce Care, a non-profit organisation aiming to democratise the care debate by supporting social care to have a voice in law and policy on social care. Sophie presents Coproduce Care’s successful livestream channel on YouTube, interviewing government Ministers, people with lived experiences and care workers. In 2019 Sophie embarked on a part-time PhD in post-colonial discourse and mental health law. Sophie is also Trustee at the Care Workers Charity and Governor at her local FE college and provides mentoring where possible.
Rachel Dodgson, Chief Executive Officer, Dimensions
Rachael has worked in social care for over 30 years starting her career as a kitchen assistant in an older people’s home and has worked her way up the ladder. Rachael worked for the social care regulator for thirteen years culminating as Head of Adult Social Care Policy. She joined Dimensions in 2019 as Managing Director and in 2022 became CEO. Rachael is passionate about ensuring people have choice and control over their lives. During the past 18 months, she has been a strong advocate for the need for funding for the sector and a fair deal for the skilled workforce.
Dr Clenton Farquarson CBE, Chair, Think Local Act Personal
Clenton Farquharson, MBE, is chair of the Think Local Act Personal partnership board, and a member of the Coalition for Collaborative Care. Clenton is also a member of the NHS Assembly, a trustee at SCIE, Race Equality Foundation and for Disability Rights UK. He is a director of Community Navigator Services CIC and a Skills for Care Ambassador.
Clenton was named in Disability News Services’ list of influential disabled people.
In June 2023 Kings Honours List, Clenton was awarded a CBE in recognition of his work in disability personalisation and co-production in the Health & Social Care Policy.
Jonathan Freeman MBE, Chief Executive Officer, CareTech Foundation
Jonathan is founder CEO of the CareTech Foundation, the award-winning corporate foundation that champions and supports the social care sector, care professionals and those living in care. In its first five years, the Foundation has supported 1.8 million individuals, providing grant funding of £5M. As CareTech Ltd’s first Group Sustainability Director, Jonathan developed the company’s CARE4 sustainability strategy, recognised as market-leading in Barclay’s report on ESG in the sector. Jonathan founded the Social Care Sustainability Alliance to help social care providers deliver on their ESG objectives. Jonathan is Vice-Chair of Championing Social Care and Chair of Trustees of Carers Worldwide.
Zoe Fry OBE, Director, The Outstanding Society
Zoe is a Director of the Outstanding Society who shares and celebrates best practices across Social Care while helping others improve. Zoe is a registered nurse who started working in Care Homes at the age of 13 and found her love for the older generation. In 2008 Zoe purchased a nursing home and transformed it, celebrating Outstanding ratings from the CQC in 2014 and then again in 2017. In 2023 Zoe was recognised for Services in Social Care and Services to Nursing by being awarded an OBE in the Kings Birthday Honours List.
Avnish Goyal CBE, Chair and Founder, Hallmark Care Homes
Avnish Goyal CBE is the Chair of industry-leading care provider, Hallmark Care Homes. He is also the Executive Chair of award-winning care home construction company, Savista Developments and new assisted living brand, Santhem Residences.
He is proud to be the Chair of Championing Social Care, The Hallmark Foundation and Care England and the founding Trustee, now Patron of The Care Workers’ Charity. In 2020, Avnish and his wife, Anita Goyal MBE, were named Ambassadors for the Alzheimer’s Society. In 2022, Avnish was awarded a CBE in her late Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, for his services to social care and philanthropy.
Anne Graham, Director, Resolve Care
Anne is a social worker, Director and co-founder of Resolve Care. Anne played a major role in the development of the Resolve Care model and was responsible for the achievement of Advanced Accreditation with the National Autistic Society. Anne ensured the achievement and retention of Outstanding CQC ratings for the home. I was delighted to find that I had been nominated for the Social Care Top 30 awards and that I had been selected as a finalist. I think this achievement is recognition for the work of the entire team at Resolve Care, a team which I am proud to lead.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Care England
Martin Green has had an extensive career in NGO development, both in the UK and internationally, and is the Chief Executive of Care England, the largest representative body for independent social care services in the UK.
In 2012, in his role as Department of Health and Social Care Independent Sector Dementia Champion, he led the development of the Dementia Care and Support Compact for The Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia.
In 2008 he was awarded an OBE for Services to Social Care in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. In 2019 he was presented with the Health Investor Outstanding Contribution Award.
Sam Hawker, Managing Director, AbleCare Homes
Sam is Managing Director of AbleCare Homes who is proud to lead a dedicated team and is actively involved in all areas of the business. Always willing to take on new projects and approaches to deliver the best possible outcomes for our residents, Sam started her career in social care at the age of 15, progressing to run her own successful business. She always champions new ideas and innovations, ensuring all opportunities are embraced. Sam actively participates in the promotion and development of social care and does all she can to help our residents live their best possible lives.
Kevin Humphrys, Chief Executive Officer, Oakland Care Group
Kevin is Oakland Care Group’s CEO, a group of care homes in West Sussex. With over 15 years of experience managing various health and care services, he has expertise in older adult care, supported living and rehabilitation with a passion for delivering person-centred care.
Kevin is on the board of West Sussex Partners in Care, the local care association. By sharing his knowledge and experience, he aims to support other care providers and improve outcomes for those the association’s providers serve. Kevin brings a desire to find innovative solutions that make a real difference in the lives of people receiving care.
Helena Jeffery, Founder Caring Homes Group, Caring Homes
Helena established Caring Homes in 1994 with her son Paul, following a successful career as a nurse and as a nursing home manager. Her founding principles for the organisation were that every home operated by the company must be sustainable and successful but, above all, every resident should feel completely free to live life to the full. Those principles remain at the heart of the company which today manages 21 homes and supports around 1,000 residents each year. Helena’s belief that “if you get the care right the rest will follow” is as true today as it was 29 years ago.
Martin Jones MBE, Chief Executive Officer, UK & International, Home Instead UK
Martin’s role with Home Instead and his non-executive and Trustee roles (Chair of the Homecare Association; Chair of The Care Workers’ Charity; member of the Age UK Board; Chair of Home Instead Charities) place him in a unique position to understand the issues facing the social care sector and to campaign for change.
He has a particular interest in the integration of health and social care and the role our homes will play as the hospitals of the future. Martin is also an advocate of the need to professionalise care work.
Martin was awarded an MBE for services to older people.
Bhavna Keane-Rao, Managing Director, BKR Care Consultancy
I have over 30 years of regulatory experience in the Health and Social Care sector including BKR Care Consultancy (BKRCC). As a former senior manager with the Care Quality Commission, I have a deep understanding of the current regulatory environment in the care sector. BKRCC was founded with the goal of ensuring that all agencies, which are actively working in the care industry, are supported to provide the highest quality care. Winner of Asian woman of Achievement for Social and Humanitarian (2019)
Peter Kinsey, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Iris Care Group Ltd
Peter has been a Local Authority Strategic Commissioning Manager and Director of Mental Health Services in the NHS. He was also CEO of Achieve Together for 13 years; in which time he oversaw a complete rebrand and relaunch of the company.
In 2022 he was appointed as Chair and Chief Executive of the nascent Iris Care Group, bringing together two established providers, Holmleigh Care Homes and Ludlow Street Healthcare, to form the new group offering a complete mental health care pathway.
Peter has an MBA and a MA in the Management of Community Care, Learning Disabilities/Mental Health.
Andrew Knight, Chief Executive Officer, Care UK
Andrew Knight is a focused, empathetic and inspiring leader and, since joining Care UK in 2014, has helped cement their status as one of the UK’s leading care providers for older people. Everyone at Care UK has a common goal: to provide safe and enabling environments in which residents are supported to lead fulfilling lives, and Andrew embodies that ethos every day. He has over 20 years of experience in senior management positions, including at Weight Watchers UK, Punch Taverns, Spirit Group, and Allied Domecq in addition to holding a non-executive position with the NHS.
Rob Martin, Managing Director of Care Services, Anchor
As the Managing Director for care services at Anchor for over two years, Rob has quickly made an impact by acquiring 14 new care homes taking Anchor to 120 in total, this whilst also embarking on digitalisation, a sustainability plan, living wage accreditation and achieving Gold inclusive employer standard. Rob is a Board Member with the National Care Forum and has built his experience in the social care sector since 2001, Rob regularly engages with government bodies to help shape the future of social care and is passionate about the profession recognition of the social care workforce.
Paul Newman, Chief Executive Officer, Greensleeves Care
Paul has most recently distinguished himself through his leadership of multi-award winning Greensleeves Care, alongside voluntary work across the sector.
He is founding Chair of the Ageing Societies Committee at the British Standards Institution (BSI). He represents the UK overseas and recently co-authored a Framework for Dementia-inclusive Communities (ISO-25552), which promotes social cohesion for people living with dementia.
An outstanding advocate for the sector, he is a founding Trustee of the Council of Deans of Health. From 2014, he served as Vice-Chair of King’s College Hospital Charity and is also a former board member of the National Care Forum.
Mike Padgham, Co-Founder, The Yorkshire and The Humber Care Association Alliance
With 34 years in social care, Mike Padgham is an influential figure in the sector. He is managing director of Saint Cecilia’s Care Group and chair of the Independent Care Group, a body he has led to becoming a national, campaigning voice for social care. Mike is currently pressing for social care to be a major issue at the next General Election, to get positive, proactive change. Mike recently became a board member of the Care Association Alliance and is also campaigning for all care providers to join a care association to grow and strengthen the sector’s voice.
Clive Parry, Director, Association for Real Change (ARC) England
ARC England Director Clive Parry has over 15 years experience in third-sector leadership positions within the learning disability and autism sector joining us in 2020. Clive’s values are centred around ensuring that all supported people can thrive within their communities and live their best possible lives, enabled by high-quality person-centred care.
Under his guidance and leadership, ARC England has become increasingly vocal in amplifying the voice of our members towards a broader and more strategic solution to systemic problems that are making life so hard for supported people, their families and organisations who support them.
Professor Vic Rayner OBE, Chief Executive Officer, National Care Forum
Professor Vic Rayner OBE is CEO of the National Care Forum (NCF) – the leading association of not-for-profit care and support organisations, joining the NCF in 2016. As CEO she is the co-chair of the government Strategic Advisory Forum on the social care workforce, chair of the National Social Care Advisory Group on social care and technology and sits on a range of government and national specialist groups with a focus on the social care workforce, digital transformation, new models of care and regulation. Professor Rayner is a regular national and international speaker and has extensive knowledge and expertise in social care.
Kathy Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Mental Health Providers
Kathy has sustained a career of outstanding achievements in health and social care, with 40+ years of experience in the NHS, Local Authority, and third-sector leadership roles. Championing the need for whole-person and innovative system approaches to the design and delivery of services, she advocated meaningful coproduction and ensured people who need support remain central to all her work.
Recognised as a mental health social care leader, Kathy sat on DHSC’s Covid-19 Social Care Taskforce for which she co-chaired the Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisory Group and was Chair of the Care Provider Alliance through the pandemic, driving positive change in policy and practice.
Neil Russell, Chairman, PJ Care
Neil has been at PJ Care for 23 years, as Chairman for the last six. He firmly believes that the quality of care provided is the most important aspect of anything in the care sector and that this is achieved by caring for the people that do the caring. The nurses and carers at PJ Care are the most important members of staff and Neil goes out of his way to support the team that looks after his residents and ensures they have all the skills and tools they need to do their job well.
Anna Severwright, Co-Convenor, Social Care Future
In my role as co-convenor of the movement Social Care Future. l was involved in two inquiries looking at the future of social care. The first, called Reimagining Care, saw the Archbishops of York and Canterbury ask a group of commissioners (of which I was one) to look beyond the present situation to what social care should be like in a modern society. The second, a report called ‘A Gloriously Ordinary Life’, was written by the House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee (I was a special advisor to the committee). They took as their starting point people’s lives not systems.
Ann Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, Hilton Nursing Partners
Ann Taylor is the Chair of the Kent Integrated Care Alliance (KiCA) and Chief Executive Officer of Hilton Nursing Partners. She is also one of the founding partners of Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care (WAGS) and a passionate campaigner through KiCA for changing the way health and social care is perceived and delivered. In her many years of experience in social care Ann has become one of the sector’s innovators having truly delivered integrated care and support for the benefit of her customers’ wellbeing and recovery.
James Tugendhat, Chief Executive Officer, HC-One
James is CEO of HC-One, a national dementia, nursing, residential and specialist care home provider with over 260 homes.
James worked across a range of sectors, before settling in the health and care sector. His early career was in consulting, and then consumer goods and services. His leadership roles have been at Bupa running both provision and commissioning businesses, and as CEO of US-based Health Dialog. Prior to HC-One, he led the international division of Boston based Bright Horizons.
James is also Non-Executive Director of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and Chair of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.
