Claire Armstrong

With over 30 years' senior leadership experience across health, social care and public services, Claire brings a deep understanding of leading change across complex systems, balancing public accountability, organisational performance and human impact. Throughout her career, she has been driven by a commitment to improving outcomes for people and communities, particularly those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged. She has led major policy, legislative and system transformation programmes through periods of significant change and uncertainty, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

During her 24-year career at the Department of Health and Social Care, Claire held a number of senior leadership roles, including Director of Adult Social Care. In this role, she led national policy and delivery to strengthen adult social care data and insight, sector-wide assurance and operational resilience across England. Working across government, local authorities, providers, regulators and other sector partners, she helped drive improvement across a complex and vital sector. She combines extensive experience of health and adult social care, public policy, governance and system leadership with a strong belief in the power of organisations working together to improve people's lives.

Following her public sector career, Claire established Claire Armstrong Coaching, an executive coaching practice supporting leaders across charitable, social impact and public sector organisations to lead through uncertainty and deliver meaningful change while staying connected to their values. She also serves as a trustee of the Avalon Social Care Group and a steering committee member for a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) programme.

Claire has long been committed to improving the lives of older people and people with disabilities. Her experience of supporting her ageing mother to remain independent deepened her appreciation of the importance of dignity, connection and community support in enabling people to live fulfilling lives and reducing the risk of isolation and loneliness. She is delighted to join the Board of Trustees of Barchester's Charitable Foundation, bringing her experience of leadership, governance and social care to support its work in helping people remain active, connected and engaged within their communities.