Less than five years ago, My Choice Healthcare (MCH) was merely a vision shared by Craig Sheppard and Neil Askew, friends committed to reimagining care.
CEO, Bethan Evans, developed MCH from being a ‘blank page’ and now leads a caring team of 400 staff. A passionate advocate for empowering individuals, she regularly visits homes to connect with staff and residents.
Launched in 2019, the business has since evolved into a dynamic organisation that supports people across South Wales and the Midlands. Today, with 10 care homes and a small Domiciliary Care service, it has continued to balance growth with uncompromising quality.
The journey wasn’t always straightforward. The team faced the challenge of not only building a new company, but also a brand, in an industry where quality and trust are paramount. From day one, their goal was clear: ‘putting people at the heart’ of all that they did.
MCH acquired its first home in December 2019, less than three months before COVID-19 hit. It was a beautiful home in the Staffordshire countryside, providing individually tailored mental health nursing support for individuals.
In 2020, whilst focussing on maintaining the safety of its residents and staff during the pandemic, MCH increased the number of beds within the home.
A year later, the business acquired three specialist residential care homes in the South Wales Valleys, supporting people with a learning disability. This saw MCH broaden its reach and further cultivate a culture of empathy and inclusivity for all.
MCH’s ambition was not dimmed by the ongoing pandemic and, in 2022, it acquired a further three care homes in South Wales, providing a mix of nursing and residential care, including bespoke support for older people and those living with dementia. Throughout this period of growth, the team continued to not only meet people’s support needs but to create spaces where residents felt safe, respected, and heard.
2023 was a year of consolidation and quality improvement, where investment was made into the homes and further ideas flourished. It was during this time that MCH was granted planning permission to further develop one of its homes, aiming to create much needed additional provision in the area.
2024 has continued to be busy. MCH has acquired a further three homes (two in South Wales and one in Shropshire) and a small Domiciliary Care business, along with a more independent living solution within the grounds of its first home, supporting people to move closer towards independent living within their own community.
One of the defining factors in MCH’s success has been its ability to adapt and innovate, and its ambition remains strong.
Alongside supporting residents, MCH values its workforce above all, understanding that a compassionate team is central to delivering quality care. Investment in training and development to nurture the next generation of carers is a priority, as MCH recognises that a well-supported team leads to better outcomes for residents.
The last few months have brought MCH its first awards’ success, with one staff member recently becoming a gold award winner at the Wales Care Awards as ‘Best Newcomer’.
Furthermore, MCH had seven finalists at the recent Great British Care Awards’ Wales Regional Finals. This resulted in it being named ‘Best Care Home Employer’, and two highly commended awards in the ‘Putting People First’ and ‘Ancillary Worker’ categories – a testament to the impact the business has made in such a short time.
However, beyond awards and accolades, MCH’s true success lies in its people and the lives it has touched. Stories of residents achieving seemingly small but meaningful milestones are common and MCH’s wonderful staff members take pride in ‘making a difference’.
More than four years on, MCH stands as an inspiring example of how a vision rooted in empathy and respect can transform lives. For Craig, Neil and Bethan, the journey is far from over. They aim to continue growing, innovating, and most importantly, making a real difference in the lives of those they are privileged to support.
https://www.mychoicehealthcare.co.uk
