Chief Care Officer in Cardiff

Here for people. Here for communities. Here for you.

Help shape the future of care at Hafod as Chief Care Officer.

We’re looking for an ambitious, forward-thinking Chief Care Officer to join our Executive team and play a leading role in shaping the future of our care services.

This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact, not just on our organisation, but on the lives of the people and communities we support.

As Chief Care Officer, you’ll provide the strategic vision, commercial leadership and direction needed to ensure our care services continue to deliver high-quality, person-centred care while remaining sustainable and fit for the future.

Working closely with our Chief Executive and Board, you’ll influence major decisions, strengthen clinical governance, identify opportunities for growth and innovation, and help shape how we respond to the changing needs of the care sector.

This is a role for someone who can see the bigger picture, make confident decisions and bring people together to turn ambition into meaningful change.

This role involves regular travel across our sites and services. While a driving licence isn’t essential, many of our locations are not easily reached by public transport, so being able to drive and use your own vehicle is often the most practical way to travel.

If you use your own vehicle for work, you’ll need appropriate insurance (for example business use).

If you don’t hold a licence or don’t have access to a vehicle, we’d still encourage you to apply. We’re happy to have a conversation with you about how you could still meet the travel requirements of the role.

What you'll be doing

• Shaping our future: Lead the development and delivery strategy of Hafod’s long term Care Strategy, setting a clear direction for our services and identifying opportunities to develop, improve and innovate.

• Driving commercial sustainability: Take executive accountability for the financial performance of our care business, balancing quality, investment and commercial opportunities to secure a sustainable future.

• Leading strategic decisions: Use market insight, demand forecasts and financial analysis to guide decisions on investment, service development and the future of our care portfolio.

• Championing quality care: Provide executive oversight and assurance of quality, safety and clinical governance, ensuring our services meet regulatory and professional standards and deliver person-centred, positive outcomes for the people we support.

• Building strong leadership: Support and challenge our care leaders, strengthening leadership capability, accountability and a culture where colleagues feel valued and empowered.

• Influencing beyond Hafod: Build meaningful relationships with commissioners, regulators, health boards, Welsh Government and sector partners, helping shape the future of care in Wales.

• Leading as one team: Play an active role in Hafod’s Executive team, contributing to wider organisational strategy, performance and decisions beyond the care portfolio.

You can find the full job description attached for a more detailed overview of the role.

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What you’ll bring

We're looking for an experienced and credible senior leader who combines commercial thinking with a genuine passion for delivering excellent care.

You'll bring:

• Substantial senior leadership experience within a complex, regulated care, health, or related service environment, including accountability at executive or equivalent level.

• A strong record of developing and implementing strategy across a diverse portfolio, translating external trends and evidence into clear organisational choices.

• Demonstrable commercial and financial leadership, including business planning, investment appraisal, service sustainability and management of material financial risk.

• A sound understanding of nurse-led clinical services, NMC professional standards and clinical governance, alongside a strong commitment to quality.

• Experience of providing assurance and strategic advice to Boards, committees and senior stakeholders, with the judgement to escalate material concerns.

• Detailed understanding of the Welsh social care environment, including regulation, commissioning, workforce and policy developments.

• Experience of leading major change, service improvement, partnership development and complex stakeholder relationships.

• Knowledge of quality, safeguarding, governance and risk in CIW regulated services, with a clear understanding of the distinct statutory position of a Responsible Individual.

Interested in applying?

We'd love to hear from you.

Submit your application online.

We’ll review all applications against the requirements of the role and contact shortlisted candidates with details of the next stage of the recruitment process.

Preliminary interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams on 26 November, with final interviews held in person at our Cardiff office on 10 December.

The successful candidate will be required to complete appropriate pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which we’ll organise and pay for.

If you’d like some tips or advice with the recruitment process, we’ve put together some helpful guidance, here.

We may close this advert early if we receive a high number of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Support and adjustments

We’re committed to ensuring a fair and inclusive recruitment process. If you need any reasonable adjustments or support at any stage, please let us know and we'll be happy to help.

Hafod Care

At Hafod, our care services make a real difference to people's lives every day. From residential and nursing care to specialist support. We provide person-centred care that promotes dignity, independence and wellbeing. Working across communities in south Wales, we're committed to delivering high-quality services that respond to changing needs, while continuing to develop and innovate for the future.

You’ll find more information about our care services here

At Hafod, we’re a socially conscious, not for profit organisation providing housing, care and support across south Wales. Everything we do is guided by our mission, Get the basics right, connect with you, and invest for a better future. We work together to deliver services that make a real difference in our communities.

We’re committed to creating a culture where everyone feels they truly belong; not just included, but respected, valued, and safe to be themselves. When people feel they belong, they bring their best, and that benefits all of us.