Advice for the people who run care services.
We work with owners and managers on the decisions that shape a service: what to offer, how to run it well and how to pay for it.
Where owners get stuck
Five problems come up again and again. Choose the one closest to yours.
Starting a service without knowing the numbers
You have found premises and you are keen, but nobody has shown you what the service really earns and costs once it is open.
How we help
Income and cost models, tested for a part-full service as well as a full one, before you commit to premises or a team.
- Staffing, premises and running costs set out line by line
- What happens to the numbers if places are empty for a few months
- A clear view of the cash you need to start
Policies copied from a template nobody reads
The policy folder is thick and generic. Staff cannot tell you what it says.
How we help
Policies and quality systems written for how your service actually works, and checked against the standards that apply to it.
- Policies staff can follow, in plain language
- Audits and records that match the policies
- A review routine so nothing goes out of date
Contracts and frameworks written in language that hides the risk
The specification runs to many pages and nobody has had time to read every line against what the service can deliver.
How we help
Reading the specification, preparing the evidence and understanding what commissioners monitor.
- A plain summary of what is expected and what you take on
- Evidence ready for monitoring visits
- A realistic view of rates, hours and risk
Ownership set up in a hurry
The company was formed quickly, and now there are questions about who owns what and who decides.
How we help
How the business is owned and run, worked through with your own solicitor and accountant.
- A clear picture of ownership, control and responsibility
- Questions to put to your solicitor and accountant
- Records that match the structure
Not ready when an investor or buyer asks
Someone asks to see the audits, the training records and the accounts, and it takes weeks to pull them together.
How we help
Records, compliance and numbers in the state a buyer or investor will ask to see.
- A readiness checklist and gaps list
- A single set of audit records
- Management information you can explain
How we work
We agree scope and fee in writing before we start, so you know the cost in advance.
- We talkA short call to understand your service and what you need.
- We agree scope and feeWritten down before any work starts.
- We do the workYou see drafts as they are ready, not at the end.
- We hand overEverything is yours to run, with a clear next step.
Questions about advisory work
Do you give legal or tax advice?
No. We advise on how the service is run and set up, and work alongside your own solicitor and accountant on legal and tax questions.
How do you charge?
We agree the scope and the fee in writing before we start, so you know the cost in advance.
Who do you work with?
Owners and managers of care, supported living and residential services, from people planning a first service to those running several.
Can you help if I already run a service?
Yes. Many questions, such as quality systems, contracts, financial planning and readiness for investment, come up after a service is open.