Meet our Team
Carla Middleton
CEO, Owner & Founder
Carla is a dedicated healthcare professional with over three decades of experience, driven by a passion for transforming services and enhancing the lives of vulnerable individuals. With a strong background in both the NHS and private healthcare, Carla has built a reputation for exceptional senior leadership, leading extensive teams with integrity and a clear vision for quality care provision. Carla’s leadership has been so impactful that many of the professionals she has mentored have continued to follow her throughout their careers, a testament to the culture of trust, growth, and excellence in the sector.
Carla graduated from Liverpool John Moore’s University and since then, Carla has held key senior national roles across the UK, including Director of Operations. Carla brings deep operational expertise and a results-driven approach, particularly in supporting services to move from crisis to compliance, often within tight timeframes.
As the Founder of Quality Care Matters 2 Us (QCM2US), Carla works with a wide range of providers from large national charities, large corporate providers to independent care home owners and domiciliary care providers, Carla ensures their services not only meet but exceed regulatory expectations. Carla specialises in turning around underperforming services, strengthening governance, and guiding teams through CQC’s evolving Single Assessment Framework (SAF).
Carla is proud to be known for her honesty, clarity, and ability to create practical, tailored solutions that bring about real change. Carla doesn’t just assess and advise, she will roll up her sleeves and work alongside teams to embed sustainable quality improvements.
In addition, Carla is a passionate advocate for technology in care, leading successful national rollouts of digital systems such as Person Centred Software (PCS), Nourish, and Birdie. By aligning digital innovation with frontline needs, Carla helps providers enhance care outcomes, improve compliance, and streamline their operations.
ALEX PARKER
QCM2US ACCOUNTANT
Alex is the founder of Parker Whitwood Accountancy and a highly experienced financial professional with a strong track record of supporting businesses across the Health & Social care sector. With a background in accounting, compliance, and business strategy, Alex works closely with QCM2US to provide expert guidance on financial governance, operational efficiency, and business growth.
Through Parker Whitwood, Alex has advised a wide range of care providers, helping them strengthen their financial foundations, streamlined processes, and navigates the increasingly complex financial aspects of new businesses. He brings a clear, jargon-free approach to financial consulting and is passionate about empowering providers to understand and manage their finances with confidence.
Alex’s insight is particularly valuable in areas such as budgeting, financial planning, cost analysis, and preparing for regulatory inspections where financial robustness is under scrutiny. As a trusted partner to QCM2US, he supports our mission to provide well-rounded, practical solutions that promote sustainability for his clients.
BARRY HARWOOD
LEGAL ADVISORY PARTNER
Barry is the group Chief Legal Officer Emeritus/Advisor to the board UKR Group in the UAE which includes 4 companies, including his own (Harwood Partners) he has significant experience resolving employment law and discrimination conflicts within the workplace, providing comprehensive legal oversight, and independently advising organisations across a range of industries. Open and engaging in his approach, he is a powerful and persuasive communicator and specialist advocate who can influence internal and external stakeholders. He provides sustainable solutions to complex issues, and leads equality, diversity, inclusion and social mobility issues on boards.
Barry is now looking to build on his experience as an independent non-executive director and as a CEO and founder of his own UAE company Harwood-Partners FZC and Harwood Partners Ltd.
Through our partnership, QCM2US benefits from Barry’s expert legal oversight tailored to Health & Social Care, advice on Employment Law and governance issues, practical solutions to complex challenges and Barry’s strategic insight.
LISA HITCHCOX
PARTNER CONSULTANT
Lisa brings over 30 years of experience in the housing, adult social care, and support sectors, with the past eight years dedicated to providing care compliance consultancy services for adult social care and support providers. At QCM2US, Lisa plays a key role as Partner Consultant, delivering robust compliance audits, CQC mock inspections, and quality assurance services to both regulated and non-regulated providers.
Lisa has supported a wide range of care settings, including Nursing, Residential, Home Care, Shared Lives, Learning Disability, and Supported Housing services. She is passionate about working alongside providers to guide, support, and assist them on their journey of continuous service improvement, with a strong focus on compliance, regulatory alignment, and person-centred care delivery.
Specialising in regulated CQC mock inspections, turnaround project management, staff mentoring, and the implementation of continuous improvement action plans, Lisa’s approach ensures that providers meet the expectations of regulators, commissioners, staff, customers, and stakeholders alike.
Prior to Lisa’s Consultancy role, Lisa worked for Your Housing Group as Quality Compliance Manager, providing a specialist compliance and quality assurance role for over 100 Care and Support services throughout the North of England.
Lisa is a highly motivated individual with excellent communication skills and extensive experience in the effective and responsive delivery of quality assurance and compliance services. Lisa is proficient in the implementation of regulated and non-regulated contract compliance frameworks, robust audit and CQC mock inspections, driving continuous service improvements to ensure regulatory compliance, while keeping customer and stakeholder satisfaction and positive experiences at the centre of the compliance audit and mock inspection process.
Lisa has always had a passion for the delivery of exceptional quality care and support services. She has an excellent record of accomplishment of the delivery of high-quality audit, compliance, business assurance, project management and turnaround services for a range of regulated and non-regulated care and support providers.
DAVE O’CONNOR
PARTNER CONSULTANT
Dave is a qualified and registered Social Worker, specialising in children’s services since 1998. He’s studied management to post-graduate level, completed professional coaching programmes leading to achieving Level 7 Institute of Leadership & Management Professional Coaching & Mentoring. Dave has completed a yearlong teaching programme enabling him to teach within the Adult Learning Sector.
Following qualification as a Social Worker he began a career as a statutory social worker, undertaking family support and child protection roles for a Local Authority. Benefitting from experience working across children and adult services provision he then embarked on a career spanning over ten years working as an inspector for the Regulatory body, NCSC, CSCI and the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Dave has a proven track record of supporting services in improving their ratings and achieving compliance with commissioning bodies, even in the face of challenges such as embargos and concerns. His expertise in areas such as CQC methodology, provider training, MCA, DoLs, and Duty of Candour, coupled with his experience in managing teams of inspectors, makes him a valuable asset in the field of regulatory compliance, audit and support.
While Dave's recent focus has been on adult social care regulation, his background as a qualified Social Worker specialising in children's provision provides him with a unique perspective. His experience in inspecting children's services across various settings, coupled with his managerial experience, demonstrates his versatility and adaptability in diverse professional environments.
Dave's breadth, and depth of experience, combined with his passion for supporting vulnerable individuals, makes him a highly respected professional in the field of social work and regulatory compliance. His dedication to excellence and continuous learning positions him as a valuable resource for organisations seeking to enhance their services and achieve regulatory compliance.
As a Partner Consultant for Quality Care Matters 2 Us (QCM2US), Dave delivers quarterly training sessions for new franchise owners and provides expert-led workshops on key compliance areas, including regulatory frameworks, Mental Capacity Act, DoLs, and Duty of Candour. Dave also supports QCM2US clients through detailed compliance audits and mock inspections, helping care providers understand CQC expectations and drive continuous improvement.
EMMA ELLIS
CLINICAL PARTNER CONSULTANT
Emma is a Registered General Nurse and seasoned Clinician, bringing over 30 years of experience in adult health and social care to her role as a Clinical Partner Consultant with QCM2US. With a strong foundation in both frontline clinical care and executive leadership, Emma has previously served as an Area Director for large corporate care providers, where she successfully led operational and clinical teams across multiple services.
At QCM2US, Emma supports care providers in enhancing service delivery, clinical quality, and regulatory compliance across a variety of settings. Her strategic insight is grounded in real-world experience, allowing her to identify practical solutions that improve outcomes while maintaining a person-centred approach.
Emma holds a range of teaching and assessing qualifications and is passionate about developing people. She excels in empowering individuals and teams to grow their confidence, skills, and professional competence, helping services build strong, resilient workforces that deliver safe and effective care.
Emma’s consultative approach is both supportive and results-driven. She works closely with providers to highlight strengths, resolve challenges, and ensure that services consistently meet the highest standards for the individuals they support.
SARAH DUDLEY
CLINICAL PARTNER CONSULTANT
Sarah has worked within Health and Social Care regulation for 20 years across a range of settings and with several years experience employed by health and care regulators.
Sarah is a former CQC Inspector of many years, and holds a Postgraduate Diploma Interprofessional practice in Health and Social Care.
Sarah originally trained as a nurse, she specialised in palliative care and developed skills in leadership, management, and professional mentorship. She maintains her nursing registration and is passionate about promoting a ‘people’s-based care environment enabling people to live their best life.
DARYL READING
PARTNER CONSULTANT
Daryl brings a distinguished career in the adult social care sector, with experience spanning both public and private settings. He has held a range of senior leadership positions, including Regional Director and Regional Operations Manager for national care providers, where he was responsible for driving quality, compliance, and operational performance across multiple services.
His expertise includes strategic planning, service recovery, safeguarding, and regulatory compliance, with a strong focus on improving care standards, boosting occupancy, and embedding a culture of accountability. He has led the development of high-quality, person-centred services across extra care housing, dementia care, and domiciliary care.
As a Partner Consultant working in collaboration with QCM2US, Daryl supports providers through comprehensive compliance audits and mock inspections. He plays a critical role in identifying quality improvements and implementing robust systems that align with CQC standards. With a deep understanding of person-centred care, governance frameworks, and multi-agency working, Daryl’s approach is rooted in values-led leadership and measurable service outcomes, making him a highly effective partner in achieving service excellence.
SOPHIE GREAVES
CLINICAL PARTNER CONSULTANT
Sophie is an experienced Clinician and Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) working in a fast-paced Accident & Emergency department in the North West of England. As an Independent Prescriber and a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), Sophie combines frontline clinical expertise with a strong commitment to professional standards and patient safety.
In addition to her clinical role, Sophie is a qualified educator, mentoring junior and student nurses and holding a formal teaching qualification. She is passionate about developing the next generation of healthcare professionals, consistently promoting best practice in line with NMC guidelines, including the Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates.
As a Clinical Partner Consultant for QCM2US, Sophie supports care providers across the sector by delivering high-quality clinical training, ensuring compliance with NMC and regulatory frameworks. She also plays a key role in conducting compliance audits, helping organisations maintain excellence in clinical governance, safety, and care delivery.
Sophie’s dual role as a practicing ANP and clinical consultant enables her to bring real-world insight, up-to-date clinical knowledge, and a deep understanding of regulatory expectations to every service she supports.
HELEN BRETT
PARTNER CONSULTANT
Helen is a dynamic and accomplished leader with over 25 years of experience in adult social care. As a Partner Consultant for QCM2US, she plays a key role in carrying out compliance audits, supporting services to meet and maintain high standards of care. Helen brings a proven track record in managing large-scale operations, having overseen budgets exceeding £6 million and teams of over 300 staff.
Her strengths lie in strategic thinking, people management, training, crisis intervention, and policy development. Helen has a remarkable ability to swiftly identify service needs and implement effective turnaround strategies, helping to transform underperforming services within tight timeframes. Notably, she participated in a 2024 care home CQC inspection under the new framework, achieving a “Good” rating across all Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs).
Helen is deeply committed to delivering high-quality services to vulnerable adults. As she puts it: "I love what I do. Despite the daily challenges we face in adult social care, my passion and commitment for those most vulnerable in our society remains as deeply embedded in me as it always has."
Need our help?