Peter Hodkinson
Managing Director

Peter is the Managing Director of Westward Care with overall responsibility for business management and development of the organisation.

Peter started his career in construction management, before becoming a Building Control Surveyor with Leeds City Council. He then used this experience and knowledge to create and develop care homes and was a founder member of Westward Care.

He is passionate about ensuring everyone who needs care in later life can access outstanding and personalised care whatever their situation. 

As current Chair of the Leeds Care Association, (the representative body for independent sector care providers in Leeds), Peter champions the simple aim of the organisation’s members: to promote the very best quality care in the Leeds and the surrounding area.

As Managing Director of Westward Care Peter has led the organisation in the development of innovative ‘housing with care’ schemes which aim to provide greater choice for people needing care and support in later life. Peter is particularly renowned for his partnership work with the local authority public sector. 

In addition, he is also a Trustee of ‘Holbeck Together’, a neighbourhood network supporting families and older people in inner city Leeds and serves as Chair for NICHE Leeds (Nurturing Innovation in Care Home Excellence in Leeds). 

Peter also served as a former board director at ‘Skills for Care’ for 12 years and now acts as a ‘Skills for Care’ Fellow. This Fellowship is awarded to a handful of senior leaders who have made a significant contribution to the adult social care workforce agenda over the course of their careers and who continue to work in partnership with ‘Skills for Care’ on workforce issues.

In 2014, Peter was awarded the ‘outstanding contribution award’ for social care at the Great Yorkshire & Humber Care Awards.

You can read Peter's thoughts on changing the negative language used about older people on Life at Westward Care.