Interim Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care and Registration

Published: 27 November 2018 Page last updated: 12 May 2022

Debbie Westhead has been appointed interim Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care and Registration.

Debbie, who is currently Deputy Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care for the north region and strategic lead for our enforcement work, said: "I am honoured and excited to be given the opportunity of leading the Adult Social Care and Registration directorate in the role of interim Chief Inspector."

Debbie will take over from Andrea Sutcliffe when Andrea leaves at the end of the year, and until a permanent Chief Inspector is in post.

Andrea said: "I am very pleased that Debbie has been appointed as interim Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care and Registration. Having worked with Debbie since I started at CQC I know how passionate and committed she is to improving adult social care services."

Debbie has a strong background in adult social care, having started her career on the front line as a care assistant and progressing through local government, the Commission for Social Care Inspection and CQC. She has been a member of Andrea’s leadership team since 2014, playing a pivotal role in the development and implementation of our regulatory approach in the adult social care sector.

Chief Executive Ian Trenholm said: "I am really pleased that Debbie will be joining the board and Executive Team as interim Chief Inspector, ensuring continuity of leadership at this important time for adult social care."

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Having worked with Debbie since I started at CQC I know how passionate and committed she is to improving adult social care services.

Andrea Sutcliffe