Skills for Care, the strategic body for workforce development in adult social care in England, has appointed Andy Tilden (pictured)  as interim chief executive until it finds a replacement for current chief executive Sharon Allen. He will assume the role at the end of March when Allen takes up her new role.

Tilden is a long-standing member of Skills for Care’s leaders team and is currently the company’s national director of sector development, supporting employers in developing a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. 

Tilden trained as a teacher before becoming a social worker. He has worked in residential care and in the NHS as a trainer and manager in juvenile justice. He has also worked in child protection and learning disability services. In addition, he has held roles as an external verifier, trainer, lecturer and managed a care training company.

Skills for Care chair Dame Moira Gibb said: “Andy brings with him a great deal of experience and knowledge of social care and skills development, so was the ideal person to lead our organisation through this time of transition.

“The process to recruit a new chief executive is already under way and Andy will now have an extended handover period with our chief executive Sharon Allen as he prepares to lead our team until a permanent appointment is made.”