Inclusion Healthcare is an employee owned social enterprise delivering compassionate, high quality healthcare to people who are often excluded from traditional GP services, as well as those experiencing homelessness, in custody or facing complex social or health barriers. Rooted in over two decades of innovation, the organisation exists to reduce health inequalities and deliver person centred care where it is needed most.
As Inclusion Healthcare entered a significant new chapter, underpinned by long term commissioning security, it sought to strengthen its leadership capacity to ensure its mission, values and impact remained central as it navigated growth, complexity and opportunity.
Context.
From April 2025, Inclusion Healthcare began operating under a landmark 10-year APMS contract with the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board, marking a moment of stability and ambition for the organisation.
This long term certainty created space to revisit strategy, strengthen governance and think more holistically about sustainability, innovation and social value. At the same time, the organisation was mindful of increasing pressures across the health and social care system and the importance of maintaining agility, community trust and values led leadership.
This marked a natural point to review governance arrangements and leadership succession, particularly following a lengthy and successful tenure by the previous Chair, whose contribution had helped shape the organisation over many years.
Brief.
Inclusion Healthcare engaged us to support the appointment of a Chair to the Board that would bridge legacy and future ambition and to strengthen the organisation’s ability to connectmission, strategy and long term sustainability whilst bringing strong capacity to support long term resilience and impact.
While the Chair role itself was central to the organisation’s governance and strategic oversight,the wider leadership picture included ensuring the organisation had the capacity to articulateits impact, engage external stakeholders and support innovation beyond core commissioning.
We worked closely with Inclusion Healthcare to understand its values, governance framework and ambitions under the new APMS contract. Our approach combined detailed consultation, values based role shaping and a broad search across healthcare, social enterprise, charity and community sectors. We prioritised candidates who demonstrated strategic thinking, credibility with senior stakeholders and a deep commitment to equity and social purpose, while remaining open to non-traditional career paths that could bring fresh perspectives and complementary expertise.
Outcome.
Following a thorough search and assessment process, we narrowed the field to a strong, diverse shortlist of five candidates for interview, each with credible leadership experience and alignment with Inclusion Healthcare’s mission and values. The process enabled meaningful, values led conversations about strategy, governance and long term sustainability, ensuring the Board could make a confident and informed appointment.
The successful candidate brings experience as a Senior Philanthropy Lead alongside having held Chief Executive level responsibility, combining strategic leadership with a strong understanding of organisational sustainability and stakeholder engagement. Their background includes inspiring purposeful philanthropy that strengthens healthcare and communities, as well as leading teams and shaping organisational direction in mission driven environments.
This appointment will strengthen Inclusion Healthcare’s leadership capacity at a pivotalmoment, complementing its governance and executive structures and supporting theorganisation to remain values led, resilient and ambitious. Beyond delivering high quality commissioned services, Inclusion Healthcare has a clear ambition to extend its social impact, contribute to wider system learning and play a recognised role in improving inclusion and health equity both locally and nationally.
The new Chair will support the organisation in building on its strong foundations, amplifying the voice of staff and service users and shaping a future that combines operational excellence with wider social value and influence.
“As a values driven organisation, selecting a partner who truly aligned with our ethos was absolutely critical. We reviewed several options, but Peridot quickly distinguished itself, not through glossy sales language or generic promises, but through a pitch that was deeply rooted in values, inclusion and diversity. This focus wasn’t an add-on; it was clearly embedded in who they are and how they work.
From the outset, they demonstrated an authentic understanding of the communities we serve and the importance of recruiting leaders who reflect those principles. They didn’t fail to deliver. At every stage, their approach was thoughtful, people-centred and firmly anchored in the qualities that matter most to us. The calibre of candidates, the care taken in the process, and the integrity with which they engaged both applicants and us reinforced that we chose the right partner.”
Nicholas Danks, Director of business and Finance, Inclusion Healthcare.
Clare Chesworth is a Managing Consultant with Peridot Partners’ Not for Profit Practice. She brings extensive experience in recruitment, HR, and employability across diverse sectors, including events, education, and social justice. Throughout her recruitment career, she has honed invaluable skills such as active listening, building strong relationships, and fostering collaboration to consistently deliver meaningful outcomes for clients and candidates.
