Published: 1st May 2025
By Care Innovation Summit
Ahead of his appearance at Care Innovation Summit, we sat down with Mick Laverty, CEO of ExtraCare, to learn more about his leadership journey, the role of innovation at ExtraCare, and how his diverse background shapes his approach to improving later life. Whether you’re leading in care or looking to do things differently, Mick’s perspective offers valuable food for thought.
You’ve held leadership roles across government, finance and now care – what drew you to join ExtraCare in 2016?
Mick: The opportunity to help support older people to live independently and well – something that we all have a vested interest in, particularly if you have a parent (as I did) who needs increasing levels of support.
How has your experience outside the care sector shaped the way you lead in this environment?
Mick: I’ve found a lot of similarities in the CEO role across the three sectors I’ve been a CEO in, but also distinct differences. The housing with care sector attracts a workforce that is values/empathy led whilst the two other sectors I’ve worked in were less people focused and are more commercially focused and technology focused.
Bringing some of that commercial and technology focus into ExtraCare has had benefits for our residents (and also our financial sustainability) but we’ve had to ensure we didn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater and have had to bring our workforce with us, with training and encouragement to help evolve the Charity’s culture.
What are some of the key priorities that guide your work as CEO of a charity delivering both housing and care?
Mick: We aim to be innovative and continue to support older people regardless of their health or wealth, but our long-term financial sustainability is always the top priority – residents have placed their trust in us to support them to live independently for the rest of their days.
How do you think the integration of housing, wellbeing and care supports better outcomes for older people?
Mick: I don’t think you can really separate them. The ExtraCare model is to: provide homes older people want, lifestyles they can enjoy and care if it’s needed – and multiple research studies into our model have shown that it works really well.
What practical steps have helped ExtraCare adapt or innovate to meet the changing needs of those it supports?
Mick: We’ve worked with residents to understand the problems and issues they face in their day to day lives and worked with them to find solutions, rather than finding the ‘solution’ (i.e. a product or service) first, then trying to retro-fit to a residents issue or problem.
If you feel inspired by Mick’s story, make sure to attend Care Innovation Summit and hear more from him in person. He will be joining other sector leaders in his session to explore how modern care homes can offer more inclusive, dignified and meaningful living for all.
