Managing director of HC-One care homes stars in TV reality show Undercover Boss

The managing director of HC-One, went undercover on the Channel 4 programme, Undercover Boss, and found her staff struggling to survive on their low wages.

Pam Finnis, managing director, went undercover to investigate standards of care at HC-One care homes, which took over a third of Southern Cross’s homes last year, when the company collapsed under £50m of debt.

HC-One cares for more than 10,000 people across 241 care homes in Britain.

On the programme, Ms Finnis, who last worked as a carer 17 years ago, found one of the homes had peeling paint and was in urgent need of refurbishment. At another care home, she broke down in tears when she found out that a senior care worker is on such low wages, he can’t afford to pay his phone bill.

She also worked on a night shift where the low ratio of staff to residents meant the overstretched night shift staff were unable to respond immediately to residents' calls for help.

However, she found carers who were devoted to their jobs and really cared for the residents with some working on their days off in order to spend more time with the people at the care home.

Ms Finnis, said: “Working in care is like being part of a huge family. We’re all different, we can be ourselves and we’ve all got something to give – this experience has really emphasised this point to me.

“We have some incredible staff at HC-One, staff who frequently go the extra mile to ensure that residents are provided with the kindest care in the country.

“Taking part in the programme also brought home to me the extent of the challenges that the care sector faces, and I have come away from this experience determined to meet those challenges.”

Dr Chai Patel, chairman of HC-One, decided it would be good for the company to take part in the programme because it “provided us with an opportunity to counter some of the misunderstandings that exist about care as well as an opportunity to show to the wider public the hard work and kindness that goes on every day across Britain.”

He believes “this programme approaches the care sector in a very balanced, fair and sensitive way” and said: “It highlights some amazing people, as well as the continued challenges we face with the mission we started on 1 November 2011 when we stepped in.”

At the end of the programme, Ms Finnis asked Dr Patel to bring forward a pay review of staff in the care homes as it is an issue that needs addressing. She also put forward the idea of an award scheme run on a monthly basis for staff so they feel more valued.