Meet the Team
Creating chances, choices & opportunities for people
to live the best lives they can.
Call: 01772 732313
Chief Executive Officer
Susan Swarbrick
Susan joined Caritas Care in 1998 as Senior Social Work Practitioner after a career in local authority social work. She became Foster Care Team Manager in 2002, and with the growth of the charity’s adoption services, took up the new position of Adoption & Fostering Services Manager in 2009. Susan took overall lead as Head OF service on 01 October and managing Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Foster Care Services over 5 offices before she was appointed as CEO in January 2020. Susan is also the charity’s Designated Safeguarding Children Lead.
Director of Finance
Chris Briggs
Chris joined Caritas Care in 1998 after a career in accountancy during which she had the pleasure of auditing the charity’s accounts for 10 years! Her role grew from Principal Officer Finance to Chief Finance & Operating Officer and now is the Charity’s Director of Finance and HR. She currently oversees the part of the charity’s central support services which includes Finance, HR, Administration, ICT, and Data Analysis.
Director of Community and Operations
James Haigh
James joined the team in January 2025 and brings with him experience in social care working for Lancashire County Council as both a support worker and manager in learning disability services. He has experience in housing, working at a number of Housing Associations in various roles including employment support, money advice, communities and social value. He also has experience working in charities in senior roles and delivering homelessness services.
As an on call Firefighter James serves the communities of Lancashire responding to fires, road traffic collisions, gain entry and even animal rescues (he has even rescued a cat from a tree!). Being a part of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service has enabled James to learn lots of practical skills, types of rescue and as an emergency response driver gain his LGV licence.
Head of Children’s Services
Kate Knowles
Our Trustees
Mary Leavy
Acting Chair & Treasurer/Chair of Finance
I worked for over 30 years as a Clinical Psychologist in the NHS, spending 25 years in the Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde Psychology Service as part of the Adult Mental Health Team. In 1988 I was pleased to be invited to become a member of the Board of what was then called Catholic Caring Services to Children and Community around the time that the organisation was developing community services and for several years was the trustee who linked with the service for hearing impaired people. It was good to be part of a faith-based agency serving the wider community. Since that time the organisation has grown tremendously and I learned a lot which helped me in both my professional and personal life. Since my retirement from the NHS it has been good to keep my brain active keeping up to date with all that Caritas Care is now doing!
Andy Bennett
Trustee
Stuart Lee
Trustee
Adam Roberts
Trustee
Ahmad Ghiassi
Trustee
Jo Higham
Trustee
Mike Featherstone
Trustee