Who We Are
Yorkshire and the Humber Care Association Alliance is a collaborative group encompassing 8 care associations across the region. Please see below for information regarding each member association and their Chief Executives.
Bradford Care Association (BCA)
CEO
Louise is a director of Newline Care Home Ltd and was previously a director of Newline Care Services Ltd. Her roles as Business Directors of the two organisations provides her with the experience and knowledge of both the care home and domiciliary care sectors. Louise is also a director and Chief Executive of Bradford Care Association Ltd. Louise has overseen the development and progression of the organisation vision and strategy to support independent care providers to provide the highest quality of care to the people of Bradford.
Hull and East Riding Care Association (HERCA)
CEO
HERCA (Hull & East Riding Care Association) has been supporting providers of adult social care for over 25 years.
In 2013 the Chair stood down after 13 years and Gaynor Saunders was unanimously voted to take the seat.
Owner of 3 residential care homes, Gaynor came into the industry after the death of her mother in law following 6 years of very bad care.
HERCA is made up of 6 board members; one of whom (Yvonne Rhodes) coordinates projects, meetings and collaboration with our local health and adult social care partners.
Our Board is represented by providers from large & small group operators; dementia specialists, mental health, learning disabilities, nursing, supported living and home care.
Our website provides a variety of support tools and links for providers and we have a very strong and supportive membership (circa 70% of providers).
Independent Care Group (iCG)
CEO
Immediately before joining iCG, John worked in the supported living segment of the social care market as a Chief Development Officer. He joined the Independent Care Group originally as the operational director, taking up the role of Chief Executive Officer 2 years ago.
John has a varied career from small volume manufacturing, nursing, property development and senior health service management. He has considerable public service experience at a senior level, introducing Mental Health First Aid in England with some Department of Health & Social Care funding (on the proviso the initiative would spin out as a social enterprise). It is still going to this day.
John has an interest in system improvement and continuously seeks to place iCG as a trusted partner in the local system for health and social care.
Independent Care Group (iCG) represent adult social care providers across York and North Yorkshire.
Kirklees and Calderdale Care Association (KirCCA)
CEO
James began working in Social Care in 1993 for Leeds Jewish Welfare Board, firstly within Adult Learning Disability Services, then progressed to a senior management position providing community-based services under the flagship project MOORCARE – a partnership between the LA and Voluntary sector.
In 1998, James joined the family business providing residential and nursing services, he set up a community domiciliary service in 2000 and continues to provide services to the people of Wakefield and Kirklees as a long-standing provider.
In January 2022 James was pleased to be appointed the CEO/Chair of Kirklees Care Association (KirCA) which has since become Kirklees and Calderdale Care Association (KirCCA). In November 2024 KirCCA held their first Kirklees Care Awards for the Independent, Private and VCSE Social Care providers which is probably one of his personal and professional achievements, of which James is very proud.
James looks forward to working with our strategic partners across the Social Care and Health sector. He believes that we are stronger together and together we can provide better outcomes for local people.
Leeds Care Association
CEO
Michelle is the Chief Officer at Leeds Care Association and represents the sector at a range of strategic meetings/partnerships across the Leeds system. Prior to taking up this role Michelle worked in a range of public sector organisations in a variety of roles for over 20 years with her last role being as the Commissioning Lead for Older People at Leeds City Council. Michelle worked with both the voluntary sector and the Regulated Care sector during her time at LCC and working in partnership with the care sector was extensively involved in the current Quality Service Framework that is in still in use today.
Michelle is also a Trustee of two Voluntary Sector organisations that support older people and fully supports the organisations to ensure older people have a fulfilled active life (where they can).
Michelle was awarded a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award in the Leeds City Council Awards for Excellence 2021.
North and North East Lincolnshire Care Association
CEO
Adam has worked within the independent care sector since 2001 and currently operates six care homes. As an experienced provider, he is passionate about supporting others in the sector and understands the value of strong collective representation.
Recognising the lack of a unified voice for providers in North East Lincolnshire—particularly around local authority fee negotiations and wider sector challenges—he established what is now the North and North East Lincolnshire Care Association to represent and support independent care providers. The association’s overall aim is to provide a collective voice for providers, championing their interests through advocacy, collaboration, and shared best practice to support a sustainable, high-quality care sector.
Sheffield Care Association
CEO
With over 20 years’ of experience within health and social care, Nicola is Managing Director of two nursing homes in Sheffield as well as being Chair of Sheffield Care Association and a Board Director of the National Care Association. She also runs her own healthcare and recruitment training agency.
Nicola founded Support Social Care Heroes (SSCH) as a means of caring for our carers, continuing the positive support, sense of togetherness and appreciation that came to the sector through the challenges brought about by Covid19.
Nicola believes that the best way to protect social care begins with genuinely looking after those working tirelessly to deliver it, and that there has never been a more important time to really care for our carers. Her belief in holistic wellbeing, sustainable methodologies and her grass roots approach underpin the SSCH ethos and form the backbone of our work.
Wakefield Care Association
CEO
James Creegan (MA STB PhB)
I began working in Social Care in 1993 for Leeds Jewish Welfare Board, firstly within Adult Learning Disability Services, then progressed to a senior management position providing community-based services under the flagship project MOORCARE – a partnership between the LA and Voluntary sector.
In 1998, I joined our family business providing residential and nursing services, I set up our community domiciliary service in 2000 and continue to provide services to the people of Wakefield and Kirklees as a long-standing provider.
In January 2022 I was pleased to be appointed the CEO/Chair of Kirklees Care Association (KirCA) which has since become Kirklees and Calderdale Care Association (KirCCA). In November 2024 we held our first Kirklees Care Awards for the Independent, Private and VCSE Social Care providers which is probably one of my personal and professional achievements, of which I am very proud. In February 2026, I became chair of the newly formed Wakefield Care Association. I am excited to develop the association alongside a passionate and knowledgeable board, to advocate and support adult social care providers across the sector in Wakefield.
I look forward to working with our strategic partners across the Social Care and Health sector. I believe that we are stronger together and together we can provide better outcomes for local people.