26 September 2024: Shilpi Verma, the Walfinch home care franchisee for Harrow and Brent, has been named as a winner of the prestigious Great British Franchisee Awards for 2024.
 
Shilpi, who started her home care company with Walfinch in 2021, has been recognised in these national awards for her passion for care and support combined with the business skills that in just three years have led her to build a 55-strong team who look after 28 clients.
 
Suzanne Melville, from award organiser Whichfranchise, said: "It is great to see a young business in the care industry doing so well. Shilpi’s passion for care and helping others, as well as for building a successful business, really shines through. She represents everything that the awards stand for. It's easy to see why the judges chose her as an award winner."

Teamwork
Shilpi was quick to acknowledge the work of her team. She said: “Winning a Great British Franchise Award is such an honour! It’s a testament to the passion, dedication, and hard work of our entire team. To be recognised for our commitment to delivering outstanding care means the world.

“This award not only recognises me as a franchisee, but our fantastic team of carers, who inspire me to keep pushing boundaries in adult social care and making a real difference in the lives of those we support.”

Walfinch CEO Amrit Dhaliwal said: “We are delighted that Shilpi has won a Great British Franchisee award – what an honour! Shilpi has worked incredibly hard to grow her Walfinch franchise and inspires her team every day to go over and above to engage with the community and look after the wellbeing of all of their clients within their own homes.

“From arranging free dental visits to exercise classes, plus cultural dances and meetings and fundraising to support the community, we are thrilled that this ceaseless work has been recognised with one of the most prestigious awards in the franchise industry.”

Shilpi leads an award-winning team.  In the National Social Care Leadership  Awards, Care Manager Freya Massingham was nominated for the Young Leader in Social Care Award, and Shilpi for the Executive Home Care Leader (Franchise) Award.  Meanwhile, in the London region of the Great British Care Awards, Krupa Khunt and Anita Nimavat have been nominated  for the Home Care Newcomer Award, Vaibhavi Patel for the Frontline Leaders Award and the whole team as finalists in the Home Care Team award.
 

Care for clients and carers
Shilpi's philosophy of proactive care includes regular polls of clients. When some clients said they wanted help with bed making, it was included in carers' training, and Shilpi helped hone carers' cooking skills. A recent poll showed 100% of clients were satisfied and comfortable after their care visits.
To help ensure staff wellbeing she has created monthly staff meetings, where carers can chat over pizza and cakes, and she has arranged gym discounts and free financial advice.
Shilpi said: “Being named as a Great British Franchisee is a huge driver for me and the whole team to continue to deliver the highest-quality care. Our clients, carers and the local community will all benefit from this award.”