The project
Compass Wellbeing is a Community Interest Company (CIC) based in East London, dedicated to making health and wellbeing services in North and East London, Luton and Bedfordshire truly accessible to everyone. With a focus on inclusion, independence, and community-led care, they support individuals with disabilities, long-term health conditions, and additional needs offering everything from sensory rooms and hydrotherapy to training, therapy, and respite services. At the heart of Compass Wellbeing is a commitment to removing barriers and creating supportive environments where people of all ages and abilities can thrive. Charity People helped Compass Wellbeing recruit a Chief Executive Officer.
Our approach
When it was time to recruit a new Chief Executive, the Compass Wellbeing board recognised the opportunity to take a different path, one that prioritised diversity, sector relevance, and long-term vision.
The recruitment process was collaborative and open to innovation, blending Charity People’s inclusive approach with Compass Wellbeing’s own community-based ethos.
The response exceeded expectations. Not only was the candidate pool large, but it was also rich in experience, perspectives, and alignment with the organisation’s mission.
The board ultimately appointed Mathew Sheehan, a candidate whose combination of charity sector insight and business strategy experience made him the ideal choice. With Matthew now in post, Simon reflects on what lies ahead for Compass Wellbeing, from income diversification to board development and navigating the challenges of reduced NHS funding.
The partnership between Compass Wellbeing and Charity People resulted in more than just a successful hire, it laid the foundation for an inclusive and strategic future.
Placed Candidate
Mathew Sheehan
”We were looking to recruit a Chief Executive for a Community Interest Company (CIC), which was previously owned by the NHS. Traditionally, people who apply for these roles are from within the NHS — that’s just how it tends to go. But what we really wanted was to attract candidates who had more relevant experience in the charity sector and with CICs.
SimonOutgoing CEO
”I knew that they (Charity People) were very strong when it came to encouraging a diverse range of applicants, particularly people from backgrounds who might not normally apply. And our company has a genuine commitment to community representation. We wanted to make sure we had a broad and inclusive candidate pool. The overall candidate pool was hugely diverse, which was brilliant. We had people from a wide range of backgrounds, and that meant we had to be very thoughtful when creating our shortlist.
SimonOutgoing CEO
”He (Matthew) brings a great mix of charity sector experience and business skills which is exactly what we were looking for. I’m not sure we’d have got that if we’d gone with a more traditional recruitment agency.
SimonOutgoing CEO
”They (Charity People) were approachable and provided exactly the support we needed. We also learned from each other. For example, we ran a stakeholder panel as part of the recruitment process that is quite common in parts of the NHS, and since our CIC is NHS-owned, it made sense. They quite enjoyed being part of that and it added something to the process.
SimonOutgoing CEO
”It is a tough time as it is for everyone, but Matthew’s skills are exactly what the organisation needs to move to the next level… His role now is to take the longer-term view and steer the strategy going forward, which he is already doing well.
SimonOutgoing CEO
