Made in Sussex: Caremark

Think of a thriving franchise operation and your first thought might be McDonalds or Costa Coffee. But franchises come in many shapes and sizes, and rapidly rising up the ranks of the brightest and best is home care franchisor Caremark.

With its headquarters in Worthing, Caremark is one of Sussex’s largest employers, boasting a nationwide network of over 120 franchises, and recently listed seventh in Elite Franchise’s Top 100 List, beating bigger and longer-established brands such as Subway and Papa Johns.

Managing Director David Glover knows a thing or two about franchising, having played a pivotal role in launching Subway in the UK, with the first ever franchise opening in Brighton in 1995, followed by senior roles at other leading franchise brands.

Now, however, all his energies are channelled into a business of a very different kind, one that enriches people’s lives every day, helping clients to remain in the comfort of their own homes for longer and enjoy an enhanced quality of life.

“Franchising is the perfect model for the social care sector”, says David. “Franchisees are emotionally and financially invested in achieving the mark of excellent care – and it’s clear to see the fruits of their efforts in high quality care provision, innovative service delivery and enhanced staff retention.”

With an ageing population, social care undoubtedly has a vital role to play in providing a sustainable framework for the future of our society. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that the number of centenarians living in the UK has increased 85% in the past 15 years, and projects that there will be an additional 8.6m people aged 65 years+ in the next 50 years – a population equivalent to the size of London.

“The care sector is incredibly exciting. It’s rapidly growing, with some fundamental challenges. But, with challenge comes innovation, and we’re seeing some extraordinary initiatives, both from a technological and strategic delivery perspective. It’s incredibly inspiring to see brilliant ideas emerge and become reality.“

One such innovation is Caremark’s PatchCare®, which has been heralded by industry influencers as a beacon for the sector, and it may just revolutionise the way care is delivered in future. Following a highly successful trial in mid-Sussex, Caremark is now rolling out the initiative, beginning with its flagship Pulborough branch this autumn.

“PatchCare® is our flexible new care service that matches carers up with small geographical patches. It means clients benefit from regular, more tailored visits made by the same care and support workers each day, helping to ensure consistency of care and combatting loneliness and social isolation.”, says David.

“It sounds like common sense – and it is!”, he adds. “But it’s a completely new way of delivering care, improving clients’ wellbeing and health outcomes, increasing staff satisfaction and with positive knock-on effects on NHS services reported too.”

So, in an industry that faces its fair share of financial and logistical challenges, what’s behind Caremark’s success and continues growth? “A steadfast focus on upholding our values, a strong internal culture and a commitment to encouraging communication across the network have been key”, enthuses David.

“When we reflect on our growth, it’s clear that one thing unites us and all our franchisees: an unwavering commitment to creating the mark of excellence in care.”

And with a record-breaking summer behind it, surpassing 100,000 hours of care in just one week, Caremark has clearly found a model for success!

For further details contact David Glover on 01903 266392 or david.glover@caremarklimited.co.uk