Care home marketplace: Movers and shakers

17 April 2026

Nottingham care home group names local leader as nursing and development head

Five-care-home operator Church Farm Care Group has appointed former facility managing director Anita Astle MBE to a newly created role of head of nursing and development.

The appointment comes after the group acquired Selston-based Wren Hall, where Ms Astle, a registered nurse, had been MD for 35 years, having taken over from her parents, who founded the home in 1989.

In a statement, Church Farm Care Group said Wren Hall ‘evolved from a family-run home into a highly regarded provider known for its relationship-led, person-centred dementia care’ under Mr Astle’s stewardship, and her appointment to the new role reflects its ‘commitment to strengthening our specialist nursing offer’.

16 April 2026

CQC launches hunt for new CEO amid shake-up

The Care Quality Commission has launched its search for a new ‘visionary chief executive to lead transformation, inspire confidence and shape the future of health and social care regulation across England,’ a head-hunting firm hired to lead the search said today.

The search is taking place at a ‘pivotal moment for the organisation and the wider health and social care system’, the Saxton Bampfylde social media post said.

The watchdog is looking for a new leader following the resignation of Sir Julian Hartley after less than a year in post amid the launch of an inquiry into “repeated maternity failures” at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust where he was previously chief executive.

Dr Arun Chopra has since been acting as interim chief executive.

The organisation has kicked off its bid for a new leader amid a shake-up of its regulatory frameworks and inspection regime. It said ‘momentum is growing’ behind the changes, but the next phase requires leadership in rebuilding operational strength around our core functions, while fostering innovation for the future, to lead a watchdog with a £300m budget and employing around 3,000 people.

The organisation is also set to get a new chair after Professor Sir Mike Richards stepped down in February,, but there hasn't yet been any official announcement of a process or time frame to appoint his successor.

The deadline for applications for the CEO post is May 15^th.