Welcome to Social Care

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 funding and local authorities to private providers and national policy.Why social care struggles to gain political attention, despite affecting the majority of people later in life.How public misunderstanding and cultural discomfort around ageing, death, and dependency hold back reform.The growing pressures on the system, including rising demand, increasing complexity of need and workforce challenges.The role of organisations like SCIE in shaping policy, improving practice and feeding frontline insights back into government.What a better system could look like, from national care standards to more localised, community-driven care models.This episode presents a system-level view of social care and highlights why meaningful reform depends on greater public awareness and engagement.If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review and share it with your network.Let’s continue the conversation on LinkedIn 👇🔗 / michaelzbutcher🔗 / gerard-crofton-martin-8056421b5#socialcare #healthandsocialcare #carehomesuk #socialcarepolicy

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 the episode, Michael and Francesca discuss:Why social care often prioritises processes over people, and how that impacts outcomes.The stigma surrounding care-experienced young people, and why we need to shift the narrative from “what’s wrong” to “what’s happened”.The reality of the “care cliff” at 18, where many young people face sudden independence, isolation and instability.How mentoring and human connection can transform lives, often more effectively than traditional interventions.The role of community, volunteers and everyday people in reshaping social care beyond formal systems.How technology and AI can support care without replacing the essential human relationships at its core.This episode offers a thought-provoking look at how we can move beyond box-ticking systems and rebuild social care around empathy, trust and meaningful human connection.If you found this episode insightful, please leave a review and share it with your network.Let’s continue the conversation on LinkedIn 👇🔗 / michaelzbutcher🔗 / franbglobal#socialcare #mentoring #careexperienced #youthsupport #community #healthandsocialcare

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 20-year retail career shaped a “customer-first” mindset and how that translates into social care leadership.The personal story that inspired her to create Flourish and focus on better lives for autistic people in supported living.What great culture really looks like, from coaching and recognition to the small details that make staff feel valued.The recruitment challenges facing the sector, and why coaching, confidence-building and leadership matter more than ever.The realities of working with commissioners, local authorities and NHS funding, including delayed payments and operational pressures.What families should know when seeking supported living, from funding decisions to evidencing support needs.If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review and share it with your network.Let’s continue the conversation on LinkedIn 👇🔗 / michaelzbutcher🔗 / gillian-short-4b068a99#socialcare #supportedliving #healthandsocialcare #autism #careproviders #leadership

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 and Ali explore:Why increasing staff pay became Arcadia Care’s core USP, and how it eliminated agency use almost overnight.The real-world impact of a 30%+ fee increase and how families responded to radical transparency.How higher pay changed team culture, retention, accountability and resident outcomes.Why “feel” and confidence matter more than sales scripts when families visit a care home.The emotional reality of supporting families through guilt, anxiety and major life transitions.Why recruitment marketing for young people in care is broken, and what needs to change.The financial and ethical tensions between private-pay models and local authority funding.If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review and share it with your network.Let’s continue the conversation on LinkedIn 👇🔗 / michaelzbutcher🔗 / ali-george-88197052#socialcare #carehomesuk #healthandsocialcare #carehomes

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 inside well-run services.The emotional reality of entering care, including fear, guilt and the complex family dynamics Providers must navigate every day.Why care homes should feel like homes first, not institutions or hotels.How funding pressures, staffing costs and regulatory expectations are creating a “perfect storm” for Providers.The broken commissioning model and the widening gap between the true cost of care and what local authorities pay.Why the current system relies on private payers subsidising public funding, and why that model is becoming unsustainable.Why the sector urgently needs a fair, national funding model to survive.This episode offers a deeply personal and expert-led look at the structural challenges facing social care in the UK, and why meaningful reform can no longer wait.If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review and share it with your network.Let’s continue the conversation on LinkedIn 👇🔗 / michaelzbutcher🔗 / jon-allen-79981a5#socialcare #carehomesuk #healthandsocialcare #carehomes

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 should actually look for when choosing a provider.The growing pressure on the sector, from workforce shortages to funding gaps and policy changes.Why many care providers are struggling to survive, and what that means for the future of care.The reality behind “choice” in social care, and how financial constraints often shape outcomes.The rise of the unregulated care market and how it compares to traditional providers.Why social care is still widely misunderstood, and the stories that never make it into the media.The increasing complexity of care needs, from dementia to high-dependency support at home.The hidden work carers do every day, and why they deserve far more recognition and pay. If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review and share it with your network. Let’s continue the conversation on LinkedIn 👇🔗 / michaelzbutcher🔗 / katrina-hall-💚-217a82310#socialcare #carehomesuk #healthandsocialcare #homecare #careworkers