About

About Kerry Cattell

I am Kerry Cattell, a UK-based Care Home Leadership, Culture and Governance Specialist, former Bupa Regional Director, and experienced CQC Nominated Individual.

I support care providers, registered managers, trustees and leadership teams to build well-led, compliant, financially sustainable care homes with open, honest and supportive cultures.

My work focuses on the areas that most directly impact care quality and CQC outcomes:

• Leadership behaviour

• Organisational culture

• Governance and accountability

• Regulatory compliance

• Sustainability and stability

I am known for combining real-world operational experience with clear, practical frameworks that leaders can use every day.

Why I Work in Care

My journey into care began through personal experience.

When my mother became seriously unwell, I witnessed first-hand how care systems, leadership decisions and organisational culture directly affect people’s lives. I saw moments of excellent care, and moments where systems and leadership failed the people relying on them.

That experience shaped my values and continues to inform my work today.

I believe care services work best when:

• Leaders are supported, not isolated

• Staff feel safe to speak up

• Learning replaces blame

• Governance is clear and proportionate

• Compassion and accountability coexist

Professional Experience

Professionally, I have worked across the care sector for over two decades, including:

• Progressing through operational and senior leadership roles

• Serving as a Regional Director for Bupa Care Services

• Leading services through improvement, turnaround and stabilisation

• Acting as CQC Nominated Individual, carrying statutory accountability

• Supporting boards and trustees with governance and strategy

• Consulting with care services across the UK

I currently work hands-on within services while also supporting providers and charities at board and leadership level.

This combination allows me to bridge the gap between:

• Strategic governance

• Day-to-day operational reality

• Regulatory expectations

• Human leadership

What Makes My Approach Different

I do not offer generic advice, quick fixes or theory-led solutions.

My approach is:

• Practical and grounded

• Behaviour-led rather than policy-heavy

• Focused on learning, not blame

• Aligned with how CQC actually inspects

• Respectful of the pressures leaders face

I specialise in helping organisations move from:

• Closed cultures → open cultures

• Fear of reporting → confident learning

• Compliance anxiety → inspection readiness

• Leadership burnout → sustainable leadership

How I Support Care Services

I support organisations through:

Leadership & Culture

• Culture diagnostics

• Leadership coaching for RMs, deputies and senior teams

• Psychological safety and incident learning

• Behavioural leadership development

• Staff engagement and retention strategies

Governance & CQC Well-Led

• Board and trustee support

• Nominated Individual guidance

• Inspection preparation

• Quality assurance frameworks

• Governance structures that actually work

Sustainability & Performance

• Supporting financial and operational stability

• Leadership structures that reduce dependency

• Preparing services for growth or transition

• Supporting charities through change

Tools & Frameworks

I also develop practical tools for care leaders, including:

• The Care Home Blueprint

• The Leadership Culture Pathway

• Governance and incident learning frameworks

• Leadership coaching resources

• Digital leadership tools (in development)

These resources are designed to be used in real care homes, not left unread.

My Values

I believe:

• Care leadership should be supported, not isolating

• Openness leads to safer care

• Strong governance enables compassion

• Culture is shaped by leadership behaviour

• Sustainable care requires both heart and structure

Working With Me

I work with:

• Independent care providers

• Charitable organisations

• Registered Managers and Deputies

• Trustees and Boards

If you are looking to strengthen leadership, culture, governance or CQC outcomes, I would be happy to talk.

👉 Get in touch to discuss how I can support your service.

Kerry Cattell

Care Home Leadership, Culture & Governance Specialist
Former Bupa Regional Director
CQC Nominated Individual