As Kara Healthcare continues its rapid expansion, CEO Nitesh Somani explains why a relentless focus on culture has been the true driver of growth, shaping teams, transforming homes and redefining what success looks like in care.
From Acquisition to Sector Momentum
Many care providers measure growth by beds, buildings, and financials. However, at Kara Healthcare, the focus is different. CEO Nitesh Somani, it becomes clear that the organisation’s rapid expansion from a symbolic £1 acquisition to a broader portfolio of homes is driven not by financial tricks but by a more intangible and powerful factor: culture.
Nitesh states, “Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team.” This belief is central to Kara’s operating approach, where collective strength always surpasses individual effort. The core values: knowledge, ambition, resilience, and achievement, shape the way teams work, think, and feel.
Fixing Belief Before Operations
This focus on culture is especially evident when Kara acquires new homes. Rather than imposing systems or processes from day one, the approach is deliberately human. “The biggest mistake people make is trying to fix operations before they fix belief,” Nitesh says. “Often, the teams we inherit aren’t lacking capability, they’re lacking confidence.”
The priority, therefore, is to restore pride and create psychological safety. By making staff feel valued and trusted, Kara unlocks discretionary effort, the kind that cannot be mandated. “People don’t perform their best when they’re pushed. They perform when they’re uplifted.”
Scaling Without Losing Identity
Sustaining that culture at scale is often where organisations falter. Yet Kara’s leadership is clear: growth does not break culture; inconsistency does. The solution lies in maintaining a uniform experience across every home, supported by visible leadership and internal progression. The Kara Training Academy plays a central role here, equipping staff with skills, confidence and a sense of purpose.
Importantly, the academy goes beyond traditional compliance training. From immersive team-building exercises to unconventional challenges designed to push past fears, the focus is on developing people, not just competencies. “When you invest in knowledge, you create leadership. When you invest in people, you create success,” Nitesh notes.
People Powering Performance
This people-first strategy is also Kara’s answer to the sector’s workforce challenges. Rather than relying on external recruitment or agency staff, the organisation has built a pipeline of internal talent. Career progression is tangible, with team members moving from frontline roles into leadership positions. The result is strong retention and a workforce that is deeply aligned with the organisation’s values.
Ultimately, Kara Healthcare’s growth story defies traditional expectations. While financial performance, occupancy, and ratings have all improved, Nitesh emphasises that these are results, not the initial goals. He states, “When people feel valued, they stay longer, perform better, and deliver better care.”
In a sector under constant pressure, Kara’s model offers a clear message: if you get the culture right, everything else follows.