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Three members of the Homecare Association’s Board - Sharon Lowrie, Camille Leavold MBE and John Rennison - have each earned Outstanding ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in recent months. These results don’t just mark personal success. They show what strong, visible leadership and deep-rooted values can achieve in homecare irrespective of who pays for your services.
Sharon Lowrie, Chair of the Homecare Association and Chief Executive of Be Caring, led her organisation to an Outstanding rating for its Leeds service. Inspectors highlighted the company’s inclusive culture, close community links and the way staff bring warmth and humanity to their work. Be Caring invests heavily in training and wellbeing, creating an environment where people feel valued and supported. Sharon’s approach shows how an employee-owned provider can combine strong business performance with genuine social purpose.
Camille Leavold MBE, Vice Chair of the Association and Managing Director of Abbots Care, also achieved an Outstanding rating for the company’s Hertfordshire service – their third in a row! The CQC praised Abbots Care for its inclusive leadership and culture of kindness. Initiatives like Abbots Friends, which connect volunteers with potentially isolated individuals, and regular community tea parties show the team's commitment to connection and joy. Camille combines robust systems with compassion, setting a tone where everyone takes pride in excellence.
John Rennison, Treasurer of the Association and Chief Executive of 1st Homecare, celebrated an Outstanding rating for the company’s Leighton Buzzard branch just last week. Inspectors found a motivated, caring team and leaders who know every person and staff member by name. John’s team invests in technology and training to keep standards high while maintaining the personal touch that makes care meaningful.
Although their organisations differ in size and structure, Sharon, Camille and John have much in common. They lead from the front. They listen, act and keep quality at the centre of every decision. They’ve built strong governance systems that turn learning into action and support staff in doing their best work.
Their achievements reflect the findings of our recent report, “What is the CQC Looking For?”, which analysed more than a thousand inspection reports. The research shows that visible leadership, consistent follow-through and sound medicines management are the clearest markers of Outstanding services. Sharon, Camille and John put these principles into practice every day.
These latest Outstanding ratings follow a wider pattern across the Association’s Board in recent years, reflecting the collective strength and experience that guide the Homecare Association’s work. This depth of leadership matters. It means our organisation is shaped by people who understand what excellence looks like in practice and what it takes to achieve it, day after day, across diverse communities and business models.
But this kind of leadership isn’t confined to our Board. Across our membership, we see many examples of the same mindset - leaders who champion their teams, innovate under pressure and keep people at the heart of every decision. As I heard at the recent Right at Home conference from R. Michael Anderson, leadership isn’t just a title; it’s a mindset. It’s the culture you build, the example you set and the consistency you create for others to follow.
At the Homecare Association, we exist to empower leaders in our membership through resources, training and reports that help strengthen services and show impact. Every member who invests in improvement, listens to feedback and supports their teams contributes to a stronger sector. Together, we can continue to raise the standard of homecare and show what Outstanding really looks like.
