5 minutes with Sam Monaghan, CEO at Methodist Homes MHA

Sam Monaghan is the chief executive of Methodist Homes (MHA), which is a charity care provider with a total of 88 care homes in England, Scotland and Wales.

Can you tell us about MHA and what you do?

MHA has been providing care and support for older people since 1943 and we mark our 80th anniversary next year.

Today, we work to enable people to live later life well across our 88 care homes, 70 independent living settings and 60 community-based schemes.

As CEO for almost five years, I’ve been working to speak out for our often unrecognised sector, to improve collaboration across our services for the benefit of our residents and members, develop and support our dedicated teams, and explore how we can enrich our care and support through technology and our specialist services.

Can you tell us the path you took to get to where you are today?

After training as a social worker, I worked in children’s services in local authorities. From there I went to Action for Children and on to Barnardo’s where I was the corporate director for children’s services. I joined MHA in 2018, making the transfer to services for older people.

Who inspires you the most and why?

Every day I am astounded by my colleagues working in our homes and schemes, because that is where it really counts. The compassion and care they show those we support never fails to move and inspire me.

What is your biggest achievement in your career and in your personal life?

Workwise, it was with my team in leading MHA through the pandemic.

In my personal life, with my wife, running youth church outward-bound holidays for 10 years with amazing young people and volunteers.

What is the biggest opportunity for MHA currently?

One of our big projects is reimagining our independent living schemes to meet the needs of older members of our community now and into the future.

What do you hope to introduce in MHA in the next five years and what are you most excited about implementing?

Alongside blueprints for new care homes and independent living, it’s the introduction of our Green Care and Environmental strategies, as well as new technologies to support the care we provide to enrich the lives of our residents and members.

What do you think is the biggest threat facing MHA?

The current staffing crisis across adult social care.

It is not just MHA that’s affected, but all care providers. It’s something we urgently need to work on together as a sector with the government to resolve.

What do you think the government should do to improve life in care homes?

They need to make sure they pay the true cost of care to enable us to properly remunerate our skilled and dedicated workforce and invest in our homes for the future.

Local authorities need to get the funding they deserve for adult social care so they can pass this on to providers.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A theatre director or architect.

What is your favourite book and why?

The Cicero Trilogy by Robert Harris. I love Roman history and it’s a fascinating study of politics, power and fallibility.

What is the best present you have received?

A holiday to the Seychelles.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Spending time with family, cycling, going to the gym and the theatre – especially the ballet.

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