A Reflection on 2025: Putting Care First
As 2025 draws to a close, I find myself looking back on a year that has been as challenging as it has been rewarding. While we celebrate our own milestones, our thoughts remain with our colleagues across the ICBs who have navigated significant operational shifts this year; we stand with you in support as we all adapt to these changes.
Now, in the week before Christmas – as our teams travel across the regions delivering gifts to our clients and dedicated care professionals – I want to share the extraordinary journey Care First 24 has taken over the past twelve months.
A Year of Purposeful Growth
2025 was a landmark year for our expansion. We have grown our service by an impressive 86%, successfully established our Supported Living Service, and officially launched our CIW service in Wales. While we have achieved much, the journey continues with even more ambitious plans for 2026.
To Those We Care For
Thank you for inviting us into your lives and allowing us to deliver care in the way that matters most to you. Our commitment to helping you live your best life remains unwavering.
This year, we have been privileged to share in your triumphs: from milestone birthdays and new homes to unforgettable holidays. These moments define the quality of life everyone deserves.
Sadly, we also said goodbye to some of the people we care for who have passed this year. You remain in our hearts; we will light our traditional remembrance candle on Christmas Eve, and a lit bauble hangs on our tree in your honour.
Celebrating an Award-Winning Team
An organisation is only as strong as its people, and the “Care First” attitude of our team is the heartbeat of this company. This year, our collective dedication was recognised with an incredible array of accolades:
- Stars of Social Care: Outstanding Home Care Provider Award
- KICA Awards: Community Care Registered Manager (2nd consecutive year) &
- Apprentice of the Year for Holly James
- Kent Regional Business Awards: Business Woman of the Year, Creative/Digital Innovation Award, and the prestigious Best of Kent (Overall Winner)
- Great British Care Awards: Home Care Registered Manager of the Year
- HCA: Best Home Care Start-up
- Chief Nursing Officer’s Awards: Our Training Director, Jayne Easterbrook, received the Silver Award.
To every person who works as part of our team, I want to thank you all personally: your talent and daily dedication continue to amaze me.
I feel privileged to lead such an amazing team into 2026. Thank you all for your hard work.
Innovation and Investing in the Future
Building on our NHS framework status and partnerships with over 25 commissioners, we are heavily investing in the future of clinical care:
- Nursing Excellence: Holly James became our second nurse to qualify through our apprenticeship scheme, winning the KICA Apprentice of the Year.
- New Horizons: We launched our Nursing Associate programme in September 2025, and we are rooting for all our new students.
- Pioneering Preceptorship: Our Training Director, Jayne Easterbrook, authored a Preceptorship for Nurses in Social Care—a truly inspirational framework that earned her the Kent Business Award for Innovation.
- Holistic Support: Our TOTUS psychology team continues to place mental well-being at the centre of everything we do for both clients and staff.
Our influence extends beyond our own doors through ongoing collaborations with the DHSC, University of Westminster, King’s Fund, and Skills for Care.
Empowering Our People
In a sector facing high turnover, I am proud that our staff turnover remains below 5%. We believe that by offering competitive pay, elite training, and genuine support, we empower our team to provide the highest quality care. Its simple: If we don’t care for our team, we cannot care for our clients.
Looking Toward 2026
The social care sector has been stretched to its limits by regulatory hurdles and budget pressures. Last year, I hoped for greater national recognition of the essential role social care plays in the UK; While that recognition has not yet fully materialised, we refuse to be discouraged.
Our plan for 2026 is simple: We will continue to “Care First” every single day.
To every Manager, Nurse, and care professional: Let’s keep shouting about the vital work we do.
Thank you to our partners and supporters.
Finally, I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and hope that 2026 is filled with peace, health and happiness for you all.
Merry Christmas,
Lynn James-Wellings
Care First 24