Richard Ayres is Social Care Advisor at Care England, the largest representative body for independent adult social care providers. With extensive experience across strategy, innovation, and sector-wide improvement, Richard plays a key role in supporting providers to strengthen quality, financial sustainability, and workforce resilience. He leads on major initiatives including the SMART Care Intel portal, which helps providers navigate over 100,000 CQC inspection reports and national guidance to generate improvement plans, mock inspections, and procedures aligned to “Good” and “Outstanding” care. Richard is also heavily involved in research and policy development, from analysing the impact of workforce reforms such as the Employee Rights Bill and Fair Pay Agreements, to collaborating on the annual Sector Pulse Report which tracks the financial health and future outlook of the care sector. Acting in the best interest of Care England’s members and working closely with central and local government departments, the NHS, the regulator, and leading care organisations, Richard ensures the voice of providers is not only heard but equipped with practical tools and evidence to meet rising expectations. His focus is on driving innovation, closing gaps, digital transformation, and shaping a more sustainable, high-quality future for adult social care.