Things happen for a reason

Caremark Wakefield Managing Director Julie Oommen is a big believer that “things happen for a reason” and it has something which has served her well during her career.

A trained nurse in her native India, she came to the UK with her family in 2004, with the goal of gaining her registration which would enable her to work as a nurse in this country.

Initially she worked in a residential care home as a carer before being accepted onto a training course at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust where she gained the registration she coveted.

From there she worked in a private hospital for two years before returning to the NHS to work in St James’s University Hospital, where she worked as a Nurse in the Ophthalmic department.

After 12 years in this role, and with aspirations to run her own business, she began to look at other options.

By chance, she saw an advert on Facebook aimed at potential Caremark franchisees and after a chat with the Chief Executive she decided to take the plunge in 2020, despite opening a new business during the first year of the pandemic.

Julie says: “I live in Leeds and the closest available franchise was Wakefield, so I went for it, it and haven’t looked back since.

“We didn’t have any customers when I started but one of the carers I recruited brought a customer with her and even though I couldn’t start to provide care until my CQC registration, the lady was happy to wait.

“I then became the fastest to reach 500 care hours a week, so that’s why I always say things happen for a reason!”

Julie says her nursing background has stood her in good stead over the last three and a half years.

“I will always be a nurse at heart, and I still insist on visiting our customers now because I am a people person and we are a people business,” she explains.

“My mantra to my staff, and it’s something I have printed on the window of my office, is ‘attitude is everything, so pick a good one’.

“When it comes to delivering care there is no language or barrier, it’s just about having the right attitude, being compassionate and caring.

“With that there’s nothing we can’t achieve.”

Outside of work, mum-of-two Julie enjoys spending time with her GP husband Nand, exercising and doing the off fundraiser or two.