VODG CEO Breakfast Meeting | 4 December 2026

Rachael Dodgson

Chief Executive, Dimensions

Rachael has worked in social care for over 30 years. She is a qualified social worker and has worked in a wide range of roles both in the voluntary and for profit sector. She began her career in social care as a kitchen assistant in an older people’s home and has also worked as a registered manager and as operations director in services for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism.

She worked for Birmingham People First (the self-advocacy organisation of people with learning disabilities) and then spent 13 years working for the social care regulator in a number of different posts.  She began her time there as an inspector but her final post at CQC was as Head of Adult Social Care Policy leading on strategy, regulatory frameworks and policy.  She joined Dimensions in 2019 as our Managing Director and in 2022 became our CEO.

Rachael is passionate about ensuring people have choice and control over their lives and delivering high quality support.  She is strongly committed to involving and engaging the people we support and their families, to raising the profile of social care across government, and to enabling colleagues to have great careers at Dimensions.

Rachel Peacock

Chief Executive, Making Space

Rachel joined Making Space in 2013 as Executive Director of Development, bringing to the organisation her experience and hands-on knowledge of working in small local and large national charities, as well as her experience as a commissioner. In 2016, Rachel acted up as Chief Executive Officer at Making Space and was permanently appointed to the position in May 2017.

Rachel is passionate about education and learning, seeing it as a pathway to personal and professional fulfilment. She graduated from Liverpool University with a BA (Hons) degree in English and History during the early 1990’s. Rachel went on to complete vocational courses in Youth & Community Studies and Leadership and Project Management, as well as a National Advocacy Qualification. Rachel returned to university in 2015, completing an Executive MBA degree from Liverpool John Moores University in 2018.

Working in the voluntary and community sector for over 25 years, Rachel started her professional life as a Community Development worker before then spending six years in grant making and commissioning roles. Rachel joined a large national children’s charity where she managed a portfolio of services covering family intervention projects, young carers services and children’s centres before becoming a group manager with responsibility for business development.

Rachel is also a Trustee of the Association of Mental Health Providers, a Fellow of the RSA (the royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce) and a member of the Fawcett Society, the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights at work, at home and in public life.

In her free time Rachel likes to read and bake cakes, whilst also trying to master the art of bread-making. She’s also a passionate Liverpool FC season ticket holder and enjoys the season when she can travel to far-flung corners of the world to add her support.

Helen Sanderson

Founder, Helen Sanderson Associates

I am the founder of Helen Sanderson Associates. I have worked in healthcare and social care for over 30 years and been immersed in the development of person-centered practices for the past 20 years. My PhD is on person-centered planning and organizational change. In 2016 HSA moved towards becoming a self-managed “Teal” organization, this meant me giving up my role as CEO and committing to the evolution of HSA’s purpose. Through H S A we have seeded two other organizations. The first was a new provider organization called Wellbeing Teams, to demonstrate self-management in health and care. The second is a I charity called Community Circles, seeking to create opportunities for people to come together and help each other to have better and more connected lives.

I have written over twenty books on person-centered thinking, planning, community and personalization. I am an altMBA alumni and coach, and a certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator.

I live in the UK and have three daughters, Ellie, Laura and Kate. Although I am a black belt in karate, I now enjoy spending time practicing yoga and mindfulness meditation.

Kate Terroni

Interim Chief Executive., Care Quality Commission (CQC)

Kate Terroni is our Interim Chief Executive.

Kate Terroni, a former social worker and Director of Social Services, is the Interim Chief Executive at the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Kate has a passion for ensuring that people get access to high quality, joined up, person-centred care and that people get the right support at the right time delivered by a workforce who are compassionate and valued for the skilled support they deliver.

Kate was previously our Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care, joining us in May 2019. She has also been our Chief Operating Officer and our Deputy Chief Executive.

You can follow Kate on X/Twitter: @kateterroni

: https://www.cqc.org.uk/about-us/our-board/kate-terroni