An independent review of your care service
For owners and registered managers of care homes and home care services in England.
An audit says the action is complete. The same issue comes up at handover the following week. I review your records remotely, talk through what they show and help you decide what needs attention first.
Mariana Costea | Registered Nurse and former registered manager
Remote reviews from £295. On-site consultancy is also available.
Where I can help
When the records and the shift tell different stories. I compare what audits report with what staff and residents experience, then show you which risks need attention first.
When a service is under scrutiny. I help managers examine the evidence behind a concern, agree who will act and decide how to check that care has improved.
When leadership is stretched. I work with owners, nominated individuals and managers to stabilise day-to-day oversight and test whether improvements hold.
When Independent Oversight Can Help
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You are concerned about what CQC or the local authority may find.
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The manager is overwhelmed and governance has become reactive.
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Actions are repeatedly identified but not properly closed.
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The paperwork looks acceptable, but practice remains inconsistent.
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Safeguarding, medication or care-planning concerns are increasing.
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Senior leaders no longer have a clear view of daily practice.
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You need an honest independent opinion before problems escalate.
You do not need to know exactly which service to request. Tell me what is happening, and I will advise you honestly about the level of support that may be appropriate.
Stopping the Drift
I wrote this book for care leaders who recognise the moment a workaround starts to feel normal. It follows the small decisions that can let risks go unnoticed, and the questions leaders can ask while there is still time to act.
Watch my interview with Orta about working up the care ladder
Insights From Real Care Practice
Practical observations on governance, leadership, operational risk and the gap that can develop between paperwork and daily practice.
Services
How I Work
I start with the reality of the service
I do not begin by assuming that policies, audits or dashboards are showing the full picture. I spend time understanding what is happening on the floor, how staff are working and where leadership visibility may have weakened.
I follow the evidence
I compare what leaders believe is happening with what records, incidents, staff practice and governance systems actually show.
I prioritise what matters most
I separate immediate safety concerns from wider improvement work so teams are not overwhelmed by long action plans where every task appears equally urgent.
I build practical control
Any tools, meetings, audits or reporting systems I introduce must help people make better decisions. I do not add paperwork simply to create more evidence.
I test whether change is holding
An action is not complete because a document has been updated. Improvement must be understood by the team and visible in everyday practice.
What It Is Like to Work With Me
“Mariana quickly identified operational gaps that had been repeatedly missed despite ongoing internal reviews. Her approach brought immediate visibility, stronger accountability and a far clearer governance structure across the service. What stood out most was her ability to balance regulatory understanding with practical operational leadership in a calm and highly credible way.”
Regional Operations Lead
Residential & Specialist Care Provider
“Mariana brought structure, visibility and stronger governance during a period of significant operational pressure. Her ability to align systems with real practice genuinely strengthened leadership confidence and compliance culture within the service.”
Ailsa Wright
Nominated Individual
“Mariana’s support strengthened both my confidence and my understanding of governance, regulation and operational leadership. Her guidance helped us implement systems that clearly evidenced safe practice and accountability.”
Natalie Ditzel
Registered Manager
Concerned About What Is Really Happening in Your Service?
You may already know that something is not working, even if the audits, reports and paperwork do not yet show the full picture.
Tell me what is happening. I will listen, ask the right questions and advise you honestly about whether independent support would be useful.
You do not need to know which service to request before contacting me.
Or contact me directly:
Email: mariana@mareric.co.uk
Telephone: 07475 109050