Discover Permanent Opportunities in Care & Senior Living
Helping You Recruit Leaders Who Strengthen Services
Finding the right permanent leader is about far more than filling a vacancy.
The right appointment can improve quality, stabilise teams, strengthen compliance, increase occupancy and create long-term confidence across your organisation.
For over 17 years, Stephen James Consulting has supported care providers across the UK and US with specialist permanent recruitment solutions across elderly care, nursing care, assisted living, memory care, residential services.
We specialise in mid-to-senior management appointments, from Home Manager, Executive directors through to Regional, Operational and Board and VP leadership roles.
We don’t generalise. We specialise.
Permanent Recruitment That Goes Beyond CV / Resume Delivery
Every care service is different. Before beginning a search, we take the time to understand your organisation, the challenges within the service, the leadership style required and what success should look like after the appointment has been made. We assess candidates on more than their employment history.
We look at:
Leadership style
Regulatory knowledge
Quality improvement experience
Commercial and operational capability
Staff engagement and retention
Values and cultural alignment
Long-term career motivation
This allows us to introduce candidates who are not only qualified for the role, but capable of making a genuine and lasting impact.
Roles We Recruit
We recruit permanent leaders across a wide range of care settings, including:
Home Managers
Executive Directors
Nursing Home Managers
Nursing Home Administrator (NHA)
Community Executive Directors
Quality and Compliance Managers
Regional Support Managers
Regional Managers
Regional Directors
Operations Directors
Quality Directors
Commercial Directors
Executive and Board-level leaders
Sectors We Support
Our permanent recruitment service covers the full breadth of care, including:
Residential Care
Nursing Care
Assisted Living
Memory Care
Mental Health
Learning Disabilities
Supported Living
Live-in Care
Whether you operate a single service or a national portfolio, you will have one trusted recruitment partner who understands the sector, the regulatory environment and the leadership challenges you face.
Why Care Providers Choose Us
Sector Specialists, Not Generalists
Every candidate is assessed by consultants who understand CQC and Ofsted expectations, the qualifications that matter and the kind of leadership that works within care settings. Not just on paper, but in practice.
17+ Years of Sector Experience
We have spent more than 17 years recruiting exclusively within health and social care. This means our consultants understand the pressures surrounding compliance, occupancy, staff retention, quality and culture.
Access to Passive Candidates
Many of the strongest leaders are not actively applying for roles. Our long-standing network gives our clients access to experienced professionals who may not appear through job boards or direct advertising.
Honest Market Advice
We provide realistic guidance on salary, candidate availability, location, market conditions and recruitment timescales. No false promises. No inflated expectations.
A Focus on Long-Term Fit
Our aim is not simply to secure an acceptance. We want to help you appoint leaders who remain, perform and contribute to the long-term success of your organisation.
Our Permanent Recruitment Process
Understanding the Brief
We begin by understanding the role, the service, the challenges, the culture and the outcomes you need from the appointment.
Market Mapping and Search
We identify both active and passive candidates through our established network, direct search and targeted market mapping.
Candidate Assessment
Every candidate is interviewed and assessed against the technical, operational and cultural requirements of the role.
Shortlist Presentation
You receive a carefully selected shortlist, supported by clear consultant insight into each candidate’s background, motivation and suitability.
Interview Management
We coordinate interviews, gather feedback, manage expectations and maintain candidate engagement throughout the process.
Offer and Onboarding Support
We support salary negotiations, resignation management, references and communication through to the candidate’s start date.
Saving You Time and Reducing Hiring Risk
Recruiting the wrong person can be costly. It can affect team morale, service quality, compliance, occupancy and confidence across the wider organisation.
Our permanent recruitment service is designed to help you:
Save valuable management time
Reduce recruitment risk
Reach a wider pool of candidates
Access passive senior leaders
Improve candidate engagement
Make stronger, better-informed appointments
Protect quality and continuity within your services
Trusted by Care Providers Across the UK 92% of our clients say they would recommend Stephen James Consulting, based on direct client feedback. 85% of our clients choose to work with us exclusively for their senior recruitment needs rather than running multiple agencies in parallel. Those partnerships are built on specialist knowledge, clear communication, honest advice and consistent delivery.
Flexible Permanent Recruitment Solutions
We offer a range of permanent recruitment options depending on the seniority, urgency and complexity of the appointment. These include:
Contingency recruitment
Exclusive recruitment partnerships
Retained search
Multi-role recruitment campaigns
Confidential senior leadership searches
Succession and talent mapping
We will recommend the most appropriate approach based on your organisation, market position and recruitment objectives.
Looking to Recruit a Permanent Care Leader?
Whether you are replacing a key manager, strengthening your regional structure, opening a new service or planning for future growth, Stephen James Consulting can help. We will take the time to understand your requirements and introduce carefully selected leaders with the experience, values and capability to make a lasting difference.
Speak to Our Permanent Recruitment Team. Recruit leaders who strengthen performance, stabilise services and protect standards.Contact Stephen James Consulting today to discuss your permanent recruitment needs.
