The HCI Power List serves as a guide to inspirational leaders who are shining examples of care excellence and innovation. Please find the nomination form below. From chief executives and operating officers, to compliance directors and branch managers, the Power List celebrates the people whose mission is to drive positive change in the sector, providing job opportunities that are fulfilling and constantly pushing for quality improvement.
This year we have the honour of having three of our staff make this prestigious list…
Theresa Morrison for Care Innovators
Having been promoted to COO from her previous position as Clinical Director, Theresa Morrison oversees the Connected Health’s operations including the supported living service, Live Connected, Connected Academy and the domiciliary service across Ireland north and south. Connected Health is one of the fastest growing homecare companies in the UK over the last ten years. This is according to the Independent Sector Market insight company Plimsoll — which records a growth rate of 953% for Connected Health during this time frame.
Theresa’s main goal is to ensure all clients remain safe and well while maintaining their independence in their own homes. Assessing clinical need at every opportunity to enable early discharge from hospital and long-term care. Liaise with acute services to enhance clinical care at home to get patients’ home earlier.
Theresa has delivered one of Ireland’s most advanced homecare-specific accredited and online training academies. Connected Academy is responsible for training all carers within the Connected Health Group. The learning and development function along with training administration is crucial to maintain a highly professional and sustainable workforce. There are no academic entrance requirements to become a carer, therefore the OCN NI accredited induction training we provide over a three-day period is highly valued. It gives new carers to the industry a recognised qualification whilst delivering NVQ Levels 2 to 5 in Health and Social Care creating clear career paths in social care.
Theresa acts as the company ambassador for the living wage foundation by promoting “the real living wage” to Connected Health employees with the goal of ensuring all employees have fair wage. Having recently launched our Live Connected service Theresa ran both the Barcelona and Belfast marathons in aid of Special Olympics to promote the understanding of children and adults living with physical and mental disability. She completed both marathons within a 5 week period and will continue to do everything she can to address vulnerable people’s needs.
Julie Cordner for Care Innovators
Julie joined Connected Health as Director of Business Development & Projects in March 2017. She has been an instrumental part of the team securing contracts and opening new offices across Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and GB. During Julie’s time at Connected Health, the company has grown to become one of the leading home care providers across Ireland. Julie ensures that Connected Health has always placed our People at the centre of our operations to enable us to fulfil our ambition to shape the future of home care by enhancing our most important asset – our People.
Julie leads Connected Health’s People Focus function, which encompasses Recruitment, Marketing Communications, Training and HR teams. Through Julie’s leadership, People Focus creates great employee experiences, motivating and engaging our employees. The teams work to continue to attract and retain the best employees.
Julie was responsible for Connected Health becoming the first homecare company in Northern Ireland to be accredited by the Living Wage Foundation in 2020. Today, Connected Health pays the ‘Real Living Wage’ a rate significantly higher than the national living wage, to our carers. In addition, we help our carers to receive maximum financial support via income tax claims to contribute to the fuel used for their work. In March 2023, Connected Health was also shortlisted in the Workplace Excellence Awards for ‘Best Place to Work’.
Julie heads the annual care awards for the employees at Connected Health. In 2023, Connected Health will be holding the third annual care awards, a special celebration of Connected Health’s 10-year anniversary, the award show is hosted by the company for all employees to enjoy a night out and more importantly recognise the amazing work of our carers on the ground who work so hard. These events bring our communities of carers together and it is always a brilliant night of recognition and complete appreciation for our Connected Health Family.
Throughout the year Julie ensures that we celebrate employee achievements with employee of the month recognition awards, newsletter stories and social media posts. This increases morale and connection amongst the staff, allowing Connected Health to preserve that people focus which is at the core of the company’s values.
Rebecca Vogel Faulkner for Young Trailblazers
Rebecca Vogel joined Connected Health in 2016 and quickly climbed the career ladder in the company to become Connected Health’s youngest Director at 28 years old. As Director of Technology & Special Projects, Rebecca leads both the TEC (Technology Enabled Care) Division of the company and the IT/Telecoms department.??In 2023, Rebecca became a finalist in the NI Women in Tech Awards for Digital Transformation Leader of the Year.
?Being a millennial in the care sector, Rebecca is truly at the centre of providing cutting edge solutions in a vibrant and fast paced social care scene, bringing her passion for technology to life by exploring and testing technology and digital solutions that can support those receiving care at home, and also relieve capacity in the pressurised sector with an ageing population where people are both able to and want to remain living independently at home.??
From medication dispensing robots, to virtual calling and activity wearables; Rebecca is continuously looking at the problems in the sector and exploring solutions, all tried and tested through the in-house Living Lab developed with bespoke assessment criteria to assess suitability for the sector. Rebecca was recently a finalist in the Women in Tech Awards 2023, and was also shortlisted as Digital Transformation Leader of the Year, with her team also winning Highly Commended in Tech Team of the Year?https://www.connectedtec.co.uk??
?The introduction of technology into older people’s services has had its challenges integrating with a generation that lived tech-free, Rebecca recognised the need for education across the industry for both clients and staff and developed education and training modules to promote the adoption of smarter care solutions, combining technology with physical support to deliver a more holistic approach to home care.??As well as this, Rebecca is leading the digital transformation strategy within Connected Health to further compliment the service offering to provide clinical insights, informed decision making and data driven care.
?Rebecca has also played a key role in creating Europe’s first Care Configurator as part of Connected Health 2.0, a premium private care service. The Care Configurator launched in May 2022 and is the first of its kind allowing online configuration of a bespoke care package of physical, virtual, and digital care supporting loved ones to remain healthy, happy, and safe in their home by offering a menu of services. https://connected-health.co.uk/care-configurator/??
