We are proud to announce that Coate Water Care’s Co-Founder, Geraldine Smith, has been nominated and shortlisted as a finalist in the Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care award under ‘Business Woman of the Year’.
Over 85% of the social care workforce is female. Many of these hard working, dedicated and talented women juggle the challenges of family life with their career. The purpose of the WAGS awards is to promote gender equity and promote and celebrate the incredible achievements of our female workforce.
Geraldine opened her first care home with partner, Chris in 1995. Twenty-seven years later and endless hard work developing Coate Water Care, they own nine care homes with a team of over 500 and the same family-run values.
Geraldine worked and lived in her first care home in Swindon with Chris and their sons, challenging the balance of family and work life to understand the importance of high-quality nursing, residential and dementia care.
As a fully qualified care professional, Geraldine dedicates her time and passion for care to the homes with regular visits, ensuring the residents receive the finest, professional care possible.
“Geraldine is an inspiration to all of us,” says Rachael Crocker, who manages Coate Water Care’s Mockley Manor Care Home in Warwickshire. “I have been working with her for many years and Geraldine’s dedication to providing a welcoming, secure and professional environment is an absolute compliment.”
Geraldine says, “We opened our first small care home in 1995, and as they say, great things grow from little acorns! Nearly thirty years later we have nine care homes, but some things never change – we are still a family-run concern with family values at the heart of everything we do. That means treating people with the same care and respect they would expect from their own family and loved ones.”
Lisa Carr, Editor of Care Talk magazine says, “Many of our women leaders have risen through the ranks from a frontline care role, going on to lead managers of the future through experience, and by example. The value of having worked on the frontline cannot be underestimated and is a key driver in continuing to achieve great things at leadership level.”
Geraldine is a prime example of a leader in the care sector who started as a hands-on carer and built a successful business from the ground floor up. Congratulations from everybody in the Coate Water Care family.
To find out more about any of Coate Water Care’s nine residential care homes, about the way we care for people living with dementia or to book a viewing please contact our friendly Welcome Team on 01793 821200.
