Aria Care’s chief executive Caroline Roberts began her care career at just 15 years old as a carer, working her way through the ranks to her first management role at just 26. Since then, she has held roles including regulatory inspector, director of regulation, director of quality and governance, and group director of care and operations.

Under her leadership, Aria Care has grown significantly, expanding its portfolio with the acquisition and merger of Future Care Group’s 18 communities in July last year. Beyond Aria, Roberts plays a key role in shaping the broader care sector. As a board member of Championing Social Care, she advocates for the advancement of social care, raising awareness and pushing for positive change.

“Since we launched in December 2022, I believe we have established Aria Care as a trusted leader in the sector,” Roberts says. “Everything we do is driven by a shared purpose – to enrich the lives of those we care for and those we work alongside. We are committed to and passionate about driving innovation, investing in our people, and most importantly, delivering exceptional care to every resident across our communities.

“In organisations of any size it’s vital to win the hearts and minds of every individual if you’re really going to have impact. Our values, created through genuine collaboration with our colleagues, reflect who we are and where we’re going – a care home group recognised not only for our quality and innovation but for our compassionate, person-centred approach.  We live and breathe our philosophy ‘care from the heart’.

“Every single member of our team plays a vital role in shaping this journey. From housekeeping and catering to clinical care and home leadership, our people are the heartbeat of Aria. They bring our values to life every day, making a difference in the lives of thousands of residents and their families. It was only fitting that our vision and values were co-created with them – because together, we will achieve our ambition to be the leading provider and employer of choice in the care sector.

“One of our most significant milestones to date was the merger with Future Care Group’s homes. Over the course of seven months, we united two strong care organisations into one cohesive family of 67 communities and nearly 4,000 colleagues. This merger was about more than operational alignment, it was about honouring the best of both worlds, and creating a shared future rooted in respect, quality and continuity of care. Throughout this process, we made it a priority to maintain the highest standards for our residents and to ensure our teams felt engaged, informed and truly part of the journey. I’m incredibly proud that we retained every single home manager during this period – an achievement that speaks volumes about the strength of our culture and leadership. Together, we are now delivering care from the heart, and we are better positioned than ever to grow with intention and impact in 2025 and beyond.

“Looking ahead, Aria is advancing an ambitious but grounded strategy for growth. We currently have six new-build care homes in development, the first two in Orpington, Greater London and Fareham in Hampshire have started and planning has been granted for a further home in Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire, designed with purpose to meet the evolving needs of older people in modern, thoughtful environments. Alongside these developments, we’ve allocated £8.4 million towards vital refurbishment and revival projects.

“Over the past 18 months, we’ve undertaken a significant refurbishment project across several of our communities. Working with furniture and products suppliers such as Shackletons and Opera, we’ve enhanced the appearance of our homes and improved the functionality and comfort of these spaces. Modern café bistros, elegant hair salons, spa bathrooms, and the thoughtful redesign of communal and private spaces are all part of our effort to uplift the living experience of our residents. These innovations in design have not only revitalised our homes but have also contributed to the overall wellbeing of our residents – promoting relaxation, social connection, and a greater sense of dignity and independence.

“But our growth isn’t limited to our portfolio of homes, it’s primarily about people. We are deeply committed to investing in the development of our colleagues through leadership programmes, our chef academy, and a dynamic apprenticeship initiative. Across 32 of our communities, nearly 100 apprentices are progressing through qualifications in care, hospitality, project management and more. We know that by nurturing talent from within, we strengthen the foundations of our organisation for the long term.”

The shortfall of expertise in the care sector, particularly of those aged under 25, is well-known. Aria has an above average number of younger staff; 11% compared with the national average of 8%. Roberts says: “We actively foster relationships with colleges by offering student placements and through our apprenticeships. It’s vital that we unpick the stereotype of what it means to work in care; we are extremely proactive in demonstrating that there is real career progression within Aria, that there’s fun to be had, that you will not ‘burn out’ through long hours and unrewarding work. Opportunities abound within Aria in care and nursing roles, but also in management, hospitality and business-related roles such as marketing and graphic design. Many of our student placements report how different working in care is to how they imagined and, as a sector, it’s our duty to amplify that message.

“Colleague wellbeing is extremely important to us and we believe that having a balanced approach between work and home life enables individuals to be fulfilled, engaged and satisfied in their role – whether that be through remote and hybrid working to offering flexible working patterns. We are focused on retention and development of our colleagues – when people are happy in their work, progressing, and feel that they are part of something meaningful, they want to stay.

“We launched our Inspiring Leaders and Emerging Leaders Development Programmes last year, which have been instrumental in helping colleagues grow in confidence, strengthen their leadership skills, and deepen their understanding of business operations. With a focus on communication, excellence in quality, strategic thinking, and commercial performance, these programmes are already making a real difference – we’ve even seen internal promotions as a result.”

Aria Care’s people development manager Janet Burrows adds: “Our development programmes are designed not just to build capability, but to embed our values into everyday practice. Through collaboration, learning and shared experiences, our colleagues develop the confidence to lead with empathy, integrity and a deep commitment to excellence – qualities that lie at the heart of delivering exceptional care.

“A key component of the programme involves delegates working in project groups to tackle real business challenges. Initiatives like ‘Innovation from the heart’, which looks at how emerging technologies can enhance life in our communities, and ‘Start from the heart’, which aims to improve recruitment, onboarding and retention, are already bringing fresh energy and insight into our organisation.

“Continuous improvement is always a focus for us, we encourage colleagues to challenge the way we do things, but equally to put forward ideas and solutions. Innovation is a key element of our strategy and we continue to drive forward using our experiences combined with data to make measured, informed decisions that will contribute to our success.”

At Care Management Show London 2025, Caroline Roberts will be speaking as part of the panel Women Shaping the Future of Care.