Precious Homes appoints Paul Callander as non-Executive Chairman

Precious Homes, provider of supported living and residential support services for autistic adults and those with learning disabilities, has strengthened its Board with the appointment of Paul Callander as non-executive chairman. Mitesh Dhanak, who founded the business more than 25 years ago, will step back from his current role as Chairman but continue to be involved with the Board. 

With around 40 years primarily working in Health and Social Care provision, across public, not for profit and private sectors including plc and private equity, Paul brings a wealth of experience to the role. He has experience working in Local Authority and commissioning roles, as well as working with vulnerable adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health, physical disabilities, sensory impairment, and brain injuries. This, combined with Paul’s time in residential, nursing, rehabilitation, crisis intervention, and domiciliary care, means that he will provide an objective and experienced sounding board for the Precious Homes leadership team. 

Fergal Cawley, CEO at Precious Homes, commented: “I am very pleased that Paul is joining Precious Homes’ Board. He has exceptional sector experience a wealth of leadership knowledge which allow him to offer deep insights from his extensive career. I look forward to working with Paul, the rest of the Board, and the wider Precious Homes team as we continue to take Precious forward and strive to be the best provider and employer in the sector.”

In his role as non-executive Chairman, Paul will provide strategic leadership as well as advising on current working practices. A big believer in enabling teams and celebrating achievements, Paul plans to visit as many services as possible to get an understanding of the business and meet the teams. 

Speaking about his appointment, Paul commented: “I’m very pleased to join the Precious Homes team. Precious Homes has a strong and dedicated team, a very strong MDT offering, and high-quality services. Having worked extensively in social care, both in client-facing and leadership roles, I am looking forward to working closely with Fergal and the executive team to help them to  deliver their aim of providing best-in-class care.” 

Mitesh added: “We’re lucky to have a very strong board which is dedicated to improving our services and making Precious Homes a better place to live and work. Paul shares our view that people are our key asset and that having a happy, engaged, and respected team will ensure that we can attract and retain the best people – which, combined with a keen focus on quality, will inevitably help us to deliver the best care.”