Welcome to Social Care

In this episode, Michael speaks with Ruth Maver, daughter of a care home resident living with dementia, about the emotional, practical and financial realities of supporting a loved one through their care journey. Together, Michael and Ruth discuss: Why so many families struggle to understand what social care actually is, and why navigating the system can feel overwhelming. The challenges of caring...

This week, Michael sits down with Sophie Chester-Glyn, Director of CoProduce Care, to explore one of the biggest misconceptions in social care: the idea that the sector is “broken.” Drawing on decades of experience in social care, Sophie shares why great care is about far more than services and funding. It’s about community, independence, dignity and ensuring that people remain at the centre of ev...

In this episode, Michael and Theodore Powell, CEO of Springdene Nursing & Care Homes, unpack the realities of residential care within London’s M25 and why Social Care needs a complete cultural rethink, not just more funding. Together, they look at: Why care homes can offer something profoundly different to care at home, particularly in terms of social connection, safety and quality of life. Th...

In this episode, Michael and Sue Sheath, former Director of Regulation and Quality Improvement at Barchester Healthcare, explore the emotional realities of Social Care, the pressures Providers face, and what quality care truly looks like behind the scenes. They unpack: Why moving into care is such an emotional decision for families, and why honesty, trust and communication matter from the very beg...

In the latest episode, Michael chats to Gerard Crofton-Martin, Interim CEO of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), about why social care remains one of the most misunderstood yet critically important parts of our society. Michael and Gerard unpack: Why so many people assume social care is free like the NHS (and the consequences when reality hits). The complexity of the system, from fun...

In this episode, Michael sits down with Francesca Salussolia, Founder of Goal 17 & Wowment, for a powerful conversation on why relationships, not systems, sit at the heart of effective social care. Drawing on her work supporting care-experienced young people, Francesca challenges the status quo and shares a vision for an approach to care that prioritises mentorship and human connection. During...

In this episode, Michael sits down with Gillian Short, Managing Director of Flourish Healthcare and Support, to explore leadership, culture and the realities of building a supported living provider from the ground up. Together, Michael and Gillian explore: Why putting support workers at the centre of everything creates stronger outcomes for both staff and the people being supported. How Gillian’s...

In this episode, Michael sits down with Ali George, Owner of Arcadia Care, to explore what happens when a care home completely rethinks its workforce model. Arcadia  Care has raised pay well above competitors, eliminating agency staff, and building a stable, self-policing team. The conversation unpacks the risks, the financial realities, and the cultural shift that followed. Together, Michael...

In this episode, Michael chats to Jon Allen, Director of Valuecare Ltd., to explore the realities behind running care homes in the United Kingdom, from the human side of care to the harsh financial pressures that sometimes push Providers to the brink. Together, Michael and Jon explore: Why public perception of social care is often shaped by negative headlines, and what the reality looks like insid...

In this episode, Michael speaks with Katrina Hall, Director of Bay Care Group, Project Lead for Providers Unite, and well-known care-sector advocate.   Drawing on years of experience in leadership positions, Kat offers a candid, unfiltered look at what’s really happening in social care today.   Together, Michael and Kat explore: Why finding the right care is so complex, and what families...

In this episode, Michael speaks with Sara Livadeas, founder of Social Care Works and a former local authority commissioner.   Drawing on experience from both sides of the system, Sara explains how social care actually works behind the scenes, from funding and assessments to the relationship between councils and care providers.   Together, they explore:   Why fear around social care...

In this second episode, Michael interviews Twinglobe’s Julie Burton, a respected care leader with nearly 40 years of experience in the sector. Together, they explore: What’s changed in social care from the 1980s to today (and why complexity has exploded). Why care homes are often misunderstood (and why families arrive in fear). The emotional reality of care home admissions: grief, anger, fear and...

Hosted by Michael Butcher, this podcast series dives into the realities of Social Care in England, unpacking questions that you may have, but also providing the inner secrets that Providers want you to know. In this first episode, Michael sits down with Haris Khan (CEO and Co-Founder of the Curaa Group) to explore the economics of care businesses, a crucial but often confusing part of the sector t...