‘We are rebranding to align with our commitment and delivery of high quality care’

Prabhu Neupane arrived in the UK nearly two decades ago. He started his journey as a caregiver and advanced to Care Manager. In 2016, he started a care agency and continued working in the sector. He is now running a nursing home in the UK in partnership with a Nepali entrepreneur. He is currently serving as Director of Varang Healthcare Ltd. Mr Neupane, who holds an MBA from Buckinghamshire New University, spoke to www.nepalilink.com about his journey so far and his future plans. Excerpts from the interview:

When did you establish Varang Healthcare Ltd? What are the major services being offered by your company?

Varang Healthcare Limited was founded in January 2019. The company specialises in providing comprehensive healthcare staffing solutions to nursing homes, private hospitals, and supported living facilities. The company has recently registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and expanded its offerings to include Home Care Services and Live-In Care Services, bringing personalised healthcare support directly to individuals’ homes.

How were you able to establish yourself as one of the leading homecare providers in the South East region of England?

I remember Henry Ford famously stated, ‘The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.’ I always believe that enhancing leadership skills and fostering a good culture can be achieved through embracing and learning from failures. We have become a trusted provider in the region in a short period due to our commitment to excellence in homecare services. High-quality care, experienced staff, a client-centric approach, comprehensive services, continuous improvement, and strong community presence are the key factors to our becoming one of the trusted providers in the region.

What are the challenges of delivering live-in care and home care services in the UK? How do you meet them?

Staffing and recruitment are some of the challenges in the sector. However, we have managed well by offering comprehensive training programmes, competitive salaries, and creating a supportive work environment to enhance job satisfaction. Similarly, we face financial constraints due to high competition and low margins, but we offer transparent fees and work with our clients to find cost-effective care solutions without compromising on quality. We also explore funding options and support clients in accessing available financial assistance.

How do you train your staff to meet the demands of your clients while ensuring that you meet the high standards set by the CQC?

We are a family-run business, and the directors have years of industry experience, meaning the company and its team benefit greatly from these skills and experiences. Our clinical director is a qualified nurse with more than 10 years’ experience in the NHS, community, and private care homes. The nominated individual has more than 10 years’ experience working in social care operations and management. Our team is well-versed in legal and regulatory requirements, ensuring full compliance in their day-to-day activities. A comprehensive onboarding programme, client-specific training and skills development workshops, continuous monitoring and improvement of the quality of care, and a robust feedback and improvement mechanism are our core values that underpin our success. We inculcate a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring that client needs are met and high standards are maintained.

How are you rebranding your company and why?

We are rebranding from a recruitment to a healthcare business to better reflect our expanded services and align with our commitment to delivering high-quality care. We have redesigned our logo, revamped our website, enhanced social media engagement, launched a Google-targeted marketing campaign, and formed relationships with local healthcare providers and community organisations. Varang Healthcare differentiates itself in a competitive market by communicating our unique value proposition and the quality of our home care services, along with excellent staffing solutions.

Could you please share your journey from Nepal to the UK? What motivated you to venture into the social care sector?

I was running my own business, mainly importing electrical and household items from China and selling them through wholesale and retail channels from two locations in Kathmandu. After my wife secured a nursing job in the UK, I moved here to join her. As an immigrant facing language and cultural challenges, I continued working in the social care sector, starting as a caregiver and advancing to Care Manager. Driven by a desire to acquire an international degree, I pursued an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from a reputed university in the UK, despite initially moving on a spouse visa. I sought to enhance my family’s future and make a difference through my business services. In 2016, I started a care agency and continued working in the sector. I am now running a nursing home in the UK in partnership with another Nepali entrepreneur. I am learning new challenges each day and enjoying my work in the social care industry.

How are you giving back to the community? What are your future plans?

I am committed to giving back to the Nepali community in several meaningful ways, such as providing scholarships to underprivileged Nepali students to help them access quality education, organising healthcare/medical camps and awareness programmes in remote areas of Nepal, supporting infrastructure projects such as building schools, libraries, and community centres, and mentoring and providing financial assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs in Nepal.