Social Care WorksSocial Care Works

Sara Livadeas

I bring over 30 years experience across social care, health and housing, local government, charities and private sector. I've been a social worker, commissioner, strategy director, CEO. trustee and consultant. I move comfortably between strategy, policy and operations.

Portrait of Sara Livadeas, social care consultant

Who am I?

I am a warm and energetic leader of people who believes in delivering outstanding services that support independence and choice.

I have seen the world from a commissioning perspective and from a provider perspective. I have commissioned or operated home care, residential care, extra care housing, specialist services, supported living and community services across large populations and multiple sites. I have built care homes.

I am an excellent communicator with extensive public facing experience. 

Not shy of addressing difficult issues, my approach is positive and down to earth. I have dealt with many crisis including safeguarding, fatalities, health and safety issues, regulatory breaches and reputation management. 
ARCO, Associated Retirement Community Operators, logo

What I believe

My vision for society is one where every stage of the life-cycle is valued equally, where living longer is seen as a benefit not a burden, where the sun always shines on your street party!

I don't support the doom and gloom narrative in social care. Too much attention is placed on systems. We are here to look after people not beds. People are not passive recipients of care, but citizens, neighbours, friends, family, you and me.

Key roles and credentials

I am exceptionally well networked with operators, journalists, academics, trade bodies, investors, suppliers, developers, funders and local government, serving both adults and children.
  • CEO, Fremantle Trust - £50m care charity supporting 900 older people in care homes and supported living for adults with a learning disability.
  • Strategy Director, OSJCT, strategy and care home development across 70 care homes and 15 extra care housing facilties.
  • Deputy Director, Oxfordshire County Council, Joint Commissioning services for adults and children, procurement and contract management.
  • Trustee, The Disabilities Trust (Brainkind), Chaired Quality and Governance Committee, national charity providing support for brain injury, learning disability and autism.
  • Adviser to Archbishop of Cantebury's Commission on Re-imagining Care.
  • Senior Adviser in PR and Crisis Communications, Kread London.
  • I won a Cabinet Award for my innovative campaign to encourage people living in care homes to vote in national and local elections.

Speaking and media

  • I am delighted to have spoken at conferences and seminars for ARCO, Kings Fund, Oxford University, King's College, Knight Frank, House of Lords, provider forums.
  • I have written for The Guardian, The Times, The Independent, Care Home Professional, Health Investor, Yorkshire Post, Journal of Dementia. My views were featured in Care Management Matters Insights column.
  • I have been a guest on podcasts and am always humbled to be asked to give my opinion on national and local radio as a social care expert.
  • My open Visitor Policy was featured on Good Morning Britain and in the Sunday Times during the pandemic.
  • I have ghost written articles for clients successfully placed in Care Management Matters, The Care Home Environment, Care Home Professional and Children and Young People Now.

Qualifications

  • BA (Hons) Psychology, Durham University
  • MSc Applied Social Studies (CQSW), Oxford University
  • MBA, Oxford Brookes University

Some of the people I've worked with

Chief executives, founders, commissioners and researchers — across national charities, care groups, sector bodies, and individuals just finding their voice.

Want to work with me?

I've worked with Sara for over 5 years and continue to recommend her or commission her support. Sara has not only the professional knowledge of many years in the social care sector, but she also understands every role on the human level having walked the walk herself.

She firmly places people at the heart of everything she does, both people drawing on care and support and those that work in the sector. A recent example is the consultancy she led for me at NHS England, on digitising social care.

She is an innovator, an excellent thought leader and a real pleasure to work with.

Skills for Care

Dr Jane Brightman

Director of Workforce Strategy, Skills for Care

Huge thank you Sara for turning the daunting task of social media posting, which I've struggled with for years, into an easy and achievable part of my daily routines, totally integrated into my wider work to share our research to benefit residents living in care settings to continue to enjoy time in the garden.

Step Change Design

Debbie Carroll (MBALI)

Director, Step Change Design Ltd.

Posting is scary! I worked with Sara over a few months to grow my confidence in sharing reflections and photos and getting more comfortable at being visible in a way that feels like me.

I spend less time now worrying about every word I post and having Sara to kick ideas around with has helped me massively. 

United Response

Kate Terroni

CEO, United Response

Sara has long been a supporter of Integrated Retirement Communities. Her Key Note speech at the ARCO Conference got us all thinking and delegates were talking about it for the rest of the day.

ARCO, Associated Retirement Community Operators

Michael Voges

CEO Association of Retirement Community Operators

I have known Sara for years and she has worked on a diverse range of innovative projects for Carterwood. She always brings a different perspective and challenges my thinking.

Carterwood

Amanda Nurse

Co- Founder of Carterwood Ltd.

Sara is very incisive and quickly unearths the real issue. When she offered to help me to show case our fostering work at Care Friends in the trade press I couldn't believe she managed to get an article placed within a week!

Care Friends

Neil Eastwood

Founder Care Friends

Sara worked with Home and Future when we were setting up as an independent company. Her expert advice on social media, presenting a clear message and identity as well as wider work on our communication strategy was so helpful to us. She also supported conversations around our wider strategy. I would highly recommend Sara.

Home and Future

Lucy Butler

CEO, Home and Future (SE Region RCC)

I've worked with Sara for over 5 years and continue to recommend her or commission her support. Sara has not only the professional knowledge of many years in the social care sector, but she also understands every role on the human level having walked the walk herself.

She firmly places people at the heart of everything she does, both people drawing on care and support and those that work in the sector. A recent example is the consultancy she led for me at NHS England, on digitising social care.

She is an innovator, an excellent thought leader and a real pleasure to work with.

Skills for Care

Dr Jane Brightman

Social Care Leader & Independent Strategic Advier

Huge thank you Sara for turning the daunting task of social media posting, which I've struggled with for years, into an easy and achievable part of my daily routines, totally integrated into my wider work to share our research to benefit residents living in care settings to continue to enjoy time in the garden.

Step Change Design

Debbie Carroll (MBALI)

Director, Step Change Design Ltd.

Posting is scary! I worked with Sara over a few months to grow my confidence in sharing reflections and photos and getting more comfortable at being visible in a way that feels like me.

I spend less time now worrying about every word I post and having Sara to kick ideas around with has helped me massively. 

United Response

Kate Terroni

CEO, United Response

Sara has long been a supporter of Integrated Retirement Communities. Her Key Note speech at the ARCO Conference got us all thinking and delegates were talking about it for the rest of the day.

ARCO, Associated Retirement Community Operators

Michael Voges

CEO Association of Retirement Community Operators

I have known Sara for years and she has worked on a diverse range of innovative projects for Carterwood. She always brings a different perspective and challenges my thinking.

Carterwood

Amanda Nurse

Co- Founder of Carterwood Ltd.

Sara is very incisive and quickly unearths the real issue. When she offered to help me to show case our fostering work at Care Friends in the trade press I couldn't believe she managed to get an article placed within a week!

Care Friends

Neil Eastwood

Founder Care Friends

Sara worked with Home and Future when we were setting up as an independent company. Her expert advice on social media, presenting a clear message and identity as well as wider work on our communication strategy was so helpful to us. She also supported conversations around our wider strategy. I would highly recommend Sara.

Home and Future

Lucy Butler

CEO at Home and Future (SE Region RCC)
Front cover of Sara Livadeas' free guide to opening a new care home

Free guide

Opening a new care home?

Many services struggle through the first two years — occupancy, workforce, quality compliance. My free guide covers what actually helps.

Request a copy