CEO
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- Employer:
- West House
- Location:
- Workington, Cumbria (hybrid working)
- Salary:
- c.£100,000 plus benefits
- Closing date:
- Wednesday 14th October 2026
- Job Ref:
- GSe135722
Description
Relocation Support: Available for exceptional candidates
Requirement: Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across multiple sites.
Lead one of Cumbria's most respected social care organisations.
West House is seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation through its next chapter. Supporting adults and children with learning disabilities across Cumbria, West House combines a proud 40-year history with ambitious plans for the future. With more than 400 colleagues, an annual income of approximately £15 million and a diverse portfolio of regulated services and social enterprises, this is an opportunity to lead an organisation that changes lives every day.
Working closely with the Board, you will provide strategic leadership to ensure West House continues to deliver outstanding outcomes for the people it supports while strengthening organisational performance, quality, sustainability and growth. This is a role for a visible and authentic leader who can balance commercial acumen with a deep commitment to social impact.
We are looking for an accomplished executive with significant leadership experience at Director or CEO level within a complex, CQC and Ofsted-regulated, human-centred organisation. You will have a proven track record of leading through growth, change or transformation, engaging and developing high-performing teams, and delivering sustainable improvements in quality, efficiency and organisational performance.
You will be a strategic thinker with excellent relationship-building skills, capable of working effectively with boards, regulators, commissioners, colleagues and external partners. Experience of delivering contracted regulated services, or generating unrestricted income would be advantageous, as would a strong track record of partnership working and system leadership.
In return, West House offers the opportunity to lead a highly regarded organisation with a strong reputation, committed workforce and clear sense of purpose. For the right individual, this is a chance to make a lasting difference to the lives of the people, families and communities West House serves while shaping the future of one of the region's leading care providers.
West House is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.
Please contact Lucy Deane (lucy.deane@gatenbysanderson.com) for a confidential conversation regarding the role.
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How to Apply
- Please submit your CV along with a Supporting Statement addressing the person specification criteria, evidencing how you meet the criteria.
- Detail any employment or education gaps.
- Be ready to provide the names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees; one should be your current or most recent employer. Referees will be contacted for those proceeding to final stages. We will always gain your permission before we contact referees.
- Let us know any difficulty you may have with the indicative timetable.
- Check that your contact details are correct before you submit.
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated email confirmation. If you do not receive, please email contactus@gatenbysanderson.com