Marcelo Navarro, owner of Walfinch home care East Barnet, has been awarded the title of Walfinch Franchisee of the Year 2025.

Marcelo, who has owned the Walfinch franchised office in East Barnet, London, since 2020, says: “I am delighted that I and our 68-strong care team have been recognised for consistently going the extra mile to provide services tailored to the individual needs of clients, their families and our community.

“The award is encouraging us to grow Walfinch East Barnet still further, and to power on with our work in the local community. Clients, carers and communities are fundamental to our success.”

Clients

Marcelo and his team provide care tailored to each client's needs. He says: “Our carers tell me that this makes Walfinch East Barnet stand out from other local care providers.”  Recently some carers were trained in the care of patients prescribed collar braces, to suit one particular client.  Marcelo himself visited a client in hospital, and took part in discussions with medical professionals to ensure that the client was able to come home safely. “Co-operation like this helps speed up hospital discharge,” he says.

Carers

Carers are encouraged to take extra training.  The whole team are taking dementia care training, and recently received Oliver McGowan Mandatory training on learning disability and autism.

Marcelo adds: “Our Registered Manager is taking Level 7 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management (equivalent to a Masters degree) and our care co-ordinator is working towards Level 5 Diploma in Health & Social Care (equivalent to the second year of a bachelor's degree).  We provide sponsorship and study time.”

Marcelo also puts on events for carers, including a picnic in 2025, and the whole team celebrates feast days such as Christmas, Eid, Diwali and more.

Community

Walfinch East Barnet takes its work into the wider community.  “We cooperated with our local NHS Social Prescribers to create a free dementia awareness event, and are planning one in February, about heart failure,” says Marcelo. “It benefits local people and means Walfinch becomes better-known.”

Charity co-operation

Walfinch East Barnet recently became an official partner of Dementia Club UK, which helps people affected by dementia in the community, and also works with MHA, a national charity specialising in supporting older people.

“Co-operation between charities, carers and communities gets things done locally,” says Marcelo.

Powering growth

Amrit Dhaliwal, Founder and Chief Executive of the Walfinch home care franchise, which has a national network of offices across the country, says: “Being a Walfinch care franchisee is not only about providing superior personalised care, but also offering free activities to benefit physical and mental health in the community.

“Marcelo and his team at Walfinch East Barnet are a magnificent example, and the Walfinch Franchisee of the Year Award will help power them into the future.”