Improved leadership, professional confidence, quality care, and retention: key outcomes of My Home Life England programmes

New data from over 300 care leaders reveals that participation in a My Home Life England programme had a clear and significant impact on participating social care leaders, as well as a positive ripple effect impacting approximately 10,000 people receiving care and support and their families.

My Home Life England, part of the School of Heath and Medical Sciences at City St George’s, University of London, runs transformative professional development programmes for leaders of adult social care services, including care homes, homecare, supported housing, learning disability support services and other care and support settings. My Home Life England (MHLE) is now in its 20^th year, and has worked with over 2,700 care leaders.

Five key outcomes

My Home Life England’s 2025 Leadership Programmes Evaluation draws upon research and evaluation data gathered from 25 leadership programmes delivered in 2024-2025, including 18 cohorts of MHLE’s flagship Professional Support and Development Programme (PSDP). It reveals key programme outcomes, including:

• Improved leadership quality and promotion of a positive culture
• Staff retention and increased morale for leaders and teams
• Improved quality of support for individuals and families
• Better engagement with regulators and commissioners
• Improved services and reduced NHS pressures

Impact on care leaders

98% of surveyed care leaders saw an improvement in the quality of their management and leadership, with 97% increasing their understanding of how to improve the culture of care in their workplace and 94% growing in professional confidence.

Leaders developed greater self-awareness and resilience, improved their ability to set boundaries, achieved a healthier work–life balance, and built supportive peer relationships that reduced feelings of isolation.

Impact on teams and services

As a result of being on a MHLE programme, 95% of participants said that the quality of their engagement with their team had improved. Leaders adopted more coaching-focused approaches, delegating effectively and empowering staff, which contributed to more open, positive, and collaborative team cultures, with higher levels of engagement and initiative taking.

Enhanced communication skills, including better active listening and the use of open-ended questions, led to stronger relationships with teams, families, external partners, and the people they support. This directly facilitated improvements across services, contributing to a higher quality of practice, better quality of life for those being supported, and reduced NHS pressures.

Overall, by creating a safe space for care leaders to connect and learn from peers, acquire practical tools and strengthen their leadership practice, My Home Life England’s programmes supported significant professional growth. Care leaders were equipped with the tools, mindset, and peer relationships they needed to support quality of life for the people they support, enhance team dynamics, improve their services, and sustain their own wellbeing in demanding roles.

One care leader said:

“I’ve gained significant insight into my resilience and adaptability in the face of professional challenges. This course has taught me the importance of self-reflection and continuous personal development, which has enhanced my leadership skills and deepened my understanding of how to foster a supportive and empowering environment for both staff and residents.”

Tom Owen, Director of My Home Life England, added:

“As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of My Home Life England this year, this evaluation report demonstrates that supporting and developing current and future adult social care leaders remains just as vital today as it was when we first began. It continues to be a privilege for us to work alongside so many dedicated and resourceful care leaders and commissioners, and to witness the tangible difference made to leaders, their teams and the people they support.”

See the 2025 evaluation: myhomelife.org.uk/2025-programmes-evaluation