Caremark: Case Study
Working towards the same goal Julie Oommen left her NHS job last year to set up a Caremark office in Wakefield – and with a strong team behind her, she’s smashing her financial targets Until recently, Julie Oommen had a steady nursing job with the NHS, treating elderly patients with eye problems such as macular degeneration. Then a Facebook ad changed the course of her life. Starting a business had always been at the back of her mind, but the time and effort involved had always seemed daunting. Scrolling through the social media site, however, she was intrigued by the ad for Caremark – a name that was completely new to her. And when a senior member of the Caremark team explained what being a franchisee would involve, the whole idea suddenly started to make sense. “After going through all that information, I spoke with my husband and the guy who looks after our finances,” says Julie. “We looked through the process and thought, ‘This is quite interesting, 14
and quite challenging as well.’ But we thought we could work through it and make it a success.” A visit to Caremark’s head office in Worthing helped to seal the deal. The team was friendly and supportive, and CEO Kevin Lewis didn’t gloss over the challenges Julie would face. “Rather than pushing me to buy his franchise, he made me aware of what comes with it. It’s not all roses,” she says. “He told me, ‘Just go home and think about it and if you really think this is something you can go ahead with, come back to me.’ That was really impressive.” Having opened an office in June, she achieved CQC registration – that is, approval from the Department of Health’s Care Quality Commission – in October. “One good thing is that I managed to create a fantastic team around me and we’re all working towards one goal,” she
says. “I am well ahead with my business plan now, in actual fact. Things are all working very well for me.” That sense of teamwork is critical when it comes to finding clients and building up Caremark’s reputation in the community, she adds. “My business plan says that I’m going to break even in September 2022, but I’m starting to think I’ll reach that target in July this year.” It’s an impressive feat, especially when you consider that her business relies wholly on the private market at present. She is optimistic, however, that following a tender process, government contracts will come her way soon. “We’ve managed to create a relationship with the council and the social worker team. They are helping us,” she adds. “If someone is looking for a private provider, they’re always giving our name to them.” Her own life has certainly changed in the past year. As an NHS employee, she says, “I had a list of maybe ten patients to sort out in the morning and ten in the afternoon. After that, the time was mine. “But here, you’re thinking about your business 24/7. You’ve got managers to handle the day-to-day running of the business, but I’m very hands on. I feel like I have to be involved as well.” Fortunately, Caremark’s training and support are a constant source of reassurance. “I can always get back to Paul, who’s the regional manager, and if he doesn’t know something, he can always find out from the head office. But he’s always there to support us and that is a big help.” The Caremark brand, she notes approvingly, is “all about person-centred care. I know that if I use the system Caremark has developed, I should be able to provide fantastic care and keep people safe in the community. “I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, but I know that I should be able to make a difference and reach the goal that I want.”
