5 minutes with Mark Aitchison CEO of Colten Care

Mark Aitchison is the chief executive and group finance director of Colten Care which owns and operates care homes in the south of England.

Mark Aitchison. Credit: Colten Care.

Colten Care was established more than 40 years ago with the opening of its first residential care home on Lymington High Street.

Can you tell us about Colten Care and what you do?

We are an independent, family-owned provider that owns and operate 21 care homes in Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex.

Seven of our homes are rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission and we have a consistently high group score, currently 9.9 out of ten, on carehome.co.uk.

On this basis, we are the UK’s highest-rated care home group for our size. All our homes are registered for nursing care. We see nursing as fundamental to the delivery of elderly people’s care.

Four of our homes are dedicated to dementia care with Admiral Nurse support. Our family ethos is central to our aim of being the best at what we do. We see ourselves as one big family.

That means one team with the twin objectives of being a provider of choice and an employer of choice, driven by one overriding goal: our residents and their care.

Can you tell us about the path you took to get to where you are today and would you change anything?

My career journey started with a qualification in chartered accountancy. The world of corporate finance gave me insight into the running and operations of many businesses. Through that, I was introduced to Colten Care.

The door to joining was opened eleven years ago as finance director. Then, nine years ago I became chief executive. I wouldn’t change anything about my career. It has given me variety, experience and the chance to meet lots of very interesting people.

Who inspires you the most and why?

The amazing team of people we have in our homes because of the inspiring work they do for others every day. Their level of commitment keeps me focused and appreciative of the value of great people.

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

Leading the team through the challenges of the pandemic. There was so much uncertainty and so many issues around the safety of residents and staff and keeping homes operating. It wasn’t just me of course, it was the whole team. For me, the real achievement was being part of that team.

What do you think is the biggest threat facing care providers at the moment?

The main challenge is staff recruitment and retention. That is more essential than ever because we are still recovering from the consequences of the pandemic and needing to restore homes to where they were before Covid in a safe way.

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

For me, there are two big issues. First, we have to recognise that local authorities do not pay the true costs of care for the residents they place in care homes. That has consequences for many providers because private residents are essentially subsidising local authority funded residents and to me, that is morally wrong.

Secondly, many elderly care homes do not offer nursing care. They either push that responsibility back on an already over-stretched NHS or residents have to move to a nursing home. How can that be right?

What is the biggest opportunity for your organisation currently?

All our homes are long-established pillars of their communities and so, post-pandemic, we have a big opportunity to re-engage. That means connecting with elderly people seeking a care home and other local people who want employment. We are ideally placed to fulfil both of these groups’ needs.

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

I’m excited about moving back into growth mode after the pandemic. Construction starts imminently on a further care home in Salisbury next door to our existing one in the city, Braemar Lodge. We’re also looking to extend the Colten Care footprint by sourcing more sites for future homes. And we will continue to embrace new technology as we grow.

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

Any job to do with motorsport. I would have been happy to be involved as a mechanic or an engineer.

What is your favourite book and why?

The Matthew Shardlake series by CJ Sansom. These are historical crime novels seen through the eyes of a lawyer. They combine well-told stories with Tudor history and are great reads.

What is the best present you have received?

Being a petrolhead, I would say a McLaren track day experience at Silverstone.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Being with family, doing active sports, running, gym, cycling, paddleboarding, walking the dog, and being outdoors.

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