The honours cut across all levels of the care sector, recognising senior executives, organisational leaders, frontline care home managers, and professionals whose work strengthens the wider care ecosystem, including specialist housing, dementia care, and community-based support services.
Recognition for Executive Leadership in Social Care
Paavan Popat, Chief Executive Officer of TLC Group, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to intergenerational housing. Popat previously served on the UK Government’s Older People’s Housing Taskforce and led TLC Group to become the first care home operator globally to achieve Investors in People Wellbeing Platinum accreditation.
Anna Selby, Executive Director of Quality at HC-One, also received an honour for her services to adult social care, in recognition of her leadership in improving care quality and operational standards across the provider’s national care home network.
In addition, Professor Oonagh Smyth, Chief Executive Officer of Skills for Care, was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her contribution to workforce development in social care. Jennifer Mitchell Fairgrieve, Chair of Libertus Elderly Services, was honoured for her services to older people.
Frontline Care Home Excellence Recognised
At service level, Susan Elizabeth Watson, Home Manager at Pytchley Court Care Home, was honoured for services to adult social care. Since assuming leadership in 2018, Watson successfully transformed the home’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating from Inadequate to Outstanding in 2024, highlighting the impact of effective frontline leadership in residential care.
Wider Health and Care Sector Honours
The King’s New Year Honours also recognised professionals across the broader health and social care landscape. Hilary May Evans-Newton, Chief Executive Officer of Alzheimer’s Research UK, received an award for her work supporting dementia research and awareness.
Other recipients acknowledged across the 2025–2026 honours cycle include Professor Jane Cummings DBE for services to nursing and the NHS, and Beth Britton MBE for services to people living with dementia and their carers.
Further honours went to Kathryn Smith OBE for services to social care, Heidi Travis OBE for palliative and neurological care, Christopher Badger CBE for adult social care, and Michelle Dyson CB for health and social care.
Recognition was also extended to Dr Marie Polley MBE for social prescribing, Peter May CB for public health, Dr Matthew Kearney OBE for preventative healthcare, Dr Alexander McMahon CBE for nursing, Lesley Rutherford MBE for palliative care, and Pier-Maxine Pritchard MBE for children and family social care.
Celebrating the Impact of the Care Sector
The honours underline the care sector’s critical role in UK society, recognising individuals who have improved care standards, influenced policy, advanced research, and delivered high-quality frontline services. From strategic leadership to hands-on care delivery, the awards reflect the depth, resilience, and expertise within adult social care.
