Paul TM Smith has been a managing director, director, or part of senior management across several of the UK’s largest and most successful care groups for much of the last 30 years while also enjoying a brief sojourn consulting into both the independent and NHS sectors. Like all qualified nurses Paul begun his career in the NHS but even before qualifying as a nurse in 1986 Paul worked within the NHS as a porter in A&E. It’s been quiet the journey!
Paul has been majorly involved in high-profile service start up, take over (the rescue of the failed largest UK operator Southern Cross) turn around, rebranding and consolidation and he has worked extensively within crisis resolution and service remodelling He is an advanced practice nurse with 40 years of continuous, revalidated registered practice. He has achieved professional and academic qualifications in the UK and the USA and was greatly honoured to be a visiting research fellow (2008 – 2010) at the Green Templeton College, University of Oxford.

He is an author, public speaker, and researcher and for many years Paul has been involved in national research and standards-setting. He played a major role in the implementation and ongoing coordination of over 200 care homes within the FITS program and introduced pre-therapy into the sector. He has high industry recognition and trust and has won numerous awards including the prestigious improving lives award and more recently the innovation in care award 2025. He is best known for his innovative work in dementia and older person’s mental health.

A northerner (Born in Newcastle) who after spending more than 30 years working and living in the South of England wanted to return home Paul has taken this opportunity to work alongside the provider to create a group of exceptional care homes aiming for the outstanding rating at every single service

Building the group on family values and coproduction the Distinguished Care Group will etch its place in the heart of communities employing local people who live to care and who collectively believe in care as both an honourable professions and a morale calling.