Lead with compassion. Inspire through purpose. Shape the future of Hospiscare.
Hospiscare has been at the heart of our community for over 40 years, providing outstanding specialist end-of-life care and support to people and their families across Exeter, Mid and East Devon. As we look to the future, we are seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer to lead our charity with vision, empathy and strategic strength.
The opportunity
This is a pivotal leadership role — guiding a much-loved local charity through a period of challenge but also opportunity. You’ll work closely with a dedicated Board of Trustees and an experienced Leadership Teams to shape and deliver our strategic goals, ensuring Hospiscare remains resilient, sustainable, and true to our founding values of care, compassion, and dignity.
You’ll be the public face and voice of Hospiscare — inspiring confidence among our staff, volunteers, supporters, healthcare partners, and the wider community. Your leadership will ensure we continue to deliver the highest standards of specialist palliative care while innovating to meet the changing needs of our patients and our community.
About you
You are an accomplished and compassionate leader, able to inspire and unite people around a shared purpose. With substantial senior leadership experience — ideally gained in the charity or health and social care sectors — you bring a track record of shaping strategy, managing complex budgets, and achieving sustainable results.
You’ll understand the challenges facing healthcare and charitable organisations and bring creative, collaborative solutions. You are confident working with a Board, comfortable in the public eye, and driven by a genuine commitment to making a difference to people’s lives at the most profound of times.
Key strengths you’ll bring
- Strategic vision and proven experience leading organisational change and growth
- Strong understanding of governance, finance, and regulatory environments
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills — connecting easily and authentically with people from all walks of life
- A leadership style that combines compassion, clarity, and courage
- A deep alignment with Hospiscare’s mission and values
Why join Hospiscare?
At Hospiscare, you’ll find a community of extraordinary people — staff and volunteers dedicated to providing the very best care and support when it matters most. This is more than a leadership role; it’s an opportunity to make a lasting impact on a vital local charity and the lives of countless people in Devon.
We are working with Charity Recruitment Consultant, Jackie Dawkins of Shine Charity Recruitment,who is supporting our search. For further details about Hospiscare, please read the Recruitment Pack
Key Dates:
- Closing Date – 26th January 2026 at 5pm
- First Interview with Jackie Dawkins (via Zoom) – 2nd/3rd February 2026
- Shortlisted candidates informal meeting with Chair – 23rd February 2026
- Interview and Assessment Day at Hospiscare – 24th February 2026
Thank you!
Sahir (formerly Sahir House) is the oldest continuously operating LGBTQ+ charity in the Liverpool City Region. We are dedicated to fostering a brighter, healthier future for our communities.
We provide practical and emotional support, camaraderie and connection to:
- LGBTQ+ people
- All people living with or affected by HIV
We actively confront injustice, combat discrimination, and address inequalities. By campaigning, we strive to create a fairer and more equitable society for those we serve. Our work is insight and data-driven and our programmes are co-developed with those we serve.
What It Is Like to Work at Sahir
We want people to enjoy working at Sahir and to feel supported, valued and able to thrive. As a health and wellbeing charity, we place strong emphasis on staff wellbeing, reflective practice and work life balance.
We offer a friendly, inclusive and supportive working environment, with access to regular supervision, training and development. Staff are encouraged to build their skills, confidence and experience in ways that support both personal growth and long-term career development.
This role offers the opportunity for a qualified counsellor to deliver high quality, ethical and affirming counselling within a specialist charity setting.
You will work with LGBTQ+ community members as well as people living with or affected by HIV, providing short term counselling within a stepped care model and a supportive multidisciplinary team.
Practice is grounded in the BACP Ethical Framework and informed by the realities of stigma, identity, health and social inequality.
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for a counsellor who is:
- A qualified practitioner with a recognised counselling qualification at diploma level or above.
- Registered with BACP or working towards accreditation.
- Committed to ethical, reflective and trauma informed practice.
- Confident working with a range of presenting issues, including complexity.
- Empathic, thoughtful and able to work both autonomously and collaboratively.
We particularly welcome applications from counsellors with lived experience of the issues affecting LGBTQ+ communities and/or people living with HIV, while recognising that strong allies and practitioners from a wide range of backgrounds are equally valued.
Equality, Inclusion and Accessibility
Sahir is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age.
Lived experience is valued at Sahir, but it is not a requirement. We are interested in people who share our values and want to contribute positively to our communities.
You do not need to meet every requirement listed to apply. If you feel aligned with our values and excited by the role, we encourage you to apply.
We are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
Sahir stands as the oldest LGBTQ+ charity in the Liverpool City Region. We’re also a proud support organisation for people living with HIV.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Sahir (formerly Sahir House) is the oldest continuously operating LGBTQ+ charity in the Liverpool City Region. We are dedicated to fostering a brighter, healthier future for our communities.
We provide practical and emotional support, camaraderie and connection to:
- LGBTQ+ people
- All people living with or affected by HIV
We actively confront injustice, combat discrimination, and address inequalities. By campaigning, we strive to create a fairer and more equitable society for those we serve. Our work is insight and data-driven and our programmes are co-developed with those we serve.
What It Is Like to Work at Sahir
We want people to enjoy working at Sahir and to feel supported, valued and able to thrive. As a health and wellbeing charity, we place strong emphasis on staff wellbeing, reflective practice and work life balance.
We offer a friendly, inclusive and supportive working environment, with access to regular supervision, training and development. Staff are encouraged to build their skills, confidence and experience in ways that support both personal growth and long-term career development.
About the Role
This is a community facing role focused primarily on delivering facilitated LGBTQ+ peer support groups and wider community engagement activity. You will create and sustain safe, inclusive spaces where LGBTQ+ people can connect, build resilience and feel heard.
Alongside regular peer support delivery, you will support outreach, workshops and project specific activity in response to community need and strategic priorities. The role includes active promotion of groups and proactive engagement with under-represented and marginalised LGBTQ+ communities.
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for someone who brings:
- A genuine commitment to LGBTQ+ wellbeing and community empowerment.
- Experience of facilitating groups, engagement or community activity, or transferable experience that demonstrates these skills.
- Strong communication and relationship building skills.
- A willingness to work some evenings and occasional weekends.
- A relevant qualification at NVQ Level 3 or above in social work, health, education or similar is desirable, but equivalent experience and a commitment to learning are equally valued.
We are particularly keen to receive applications from people with lived experience of the issues affecting LGBTQ+ communities, and from those whose voices are under-represented within the sector.
Equality, Inclusion and Accessibility
Sahir is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age.
Lived experience is valued at Sahir, but it is not a requirement. We are interested in people who share our values and want to contribute positively to our communities.
You do not need to meet every requirement listed to apply. If you feel aligned with our values and excited by the role, we encourage you to apply.
We are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
Sahir stands as the oldest LGBTQ+ charity in the Liverpool City Region. We’re also a proud support organisation for people living with HIV.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.