Hartford Care appoints Nicky Barnes as Chief Operating Officer

We are delighted to announce that Nicky Barnes has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer for Hartford Care. Nicky, previously our Operations Director, began her career as a care assistant nearly 30 years ago. She worked in a range of roles within the care sector before joining Hartford Care almost a decade ago as Regional Manager. She was appointed Quality Director in 2021, and most recently served as Operations Director.

Nicky Barnes, COO at Hartford Care, said:

“Having worked as a care assistant myself, I’m keenly aware of the responsibility our teams carry every day. A career in care truly is a vocation. My experiences on the front line of care have shaped my approach as a leader and reflect my commitment to creating every opportunity for my colleagues to build their own careers. As Hartford Care continues to evolve, my priority is to ensure that our approach to safe, person-centred care remains at the heart of our decision making, and to continue to support the fantastic team we have in place.”

Kevin Shaw, Chief Executive of Hartford Care, said:

“Nicky’s strong commitment to high-quality care and our ‘home from home’ ethos means she is exceptionally well placed to take on the role of COO. As the Hartford Care portfolio continues to grow, so too does the breadth of experience and expertise under our stewardship. With social care firmly in the political spotlight, we will continue to provide high-quality care in the present, while leading innovation in technology and shaping the next generation of caregivers for tomorrow.”

Nicky’s promotion comes as Hartford Care Group merges with Select Healthcare Group following our acquisition of Select in January 2026. The merger sees Hartford Care responsible for overall management of all remaining Select homes. The Select brand will be retained for homes offering specialist support to those with complex medical needs, learning disabilities or psychological and emotional challenges, while residential, nursing and specialist dementia homes will continue to operate under the Hartford Care brand.

The merger takes our portfolio to a total of 61 homes across England and Wales.

Nicky’s appointment is a reflection of Hartford Care’s commitment to developing talent from within and recognising the dedication of colleagues who have grown their careers with us.