Our Executive Team leads the strategic direction of the Children’s Homes Association, advocating for high-quality residential care and supporting members across England and Wales.
Mark Kerr
Chief Executive Officer
Dr Mark Kerr has worked in children’s social care for over 20 years. Beginning his career in mental health, he later returned to the University of Kent as an ESRC-funded PhD candidate, completing one of the most extensive studies into the outcomes of children in care, Evidence-Based Policy: The Case of Looked After Children.
Following his doctorate, Mark was seconded to the Scottish Government to lead the development of their outcomes framework for children in care. He then spent several years in research and lecturing, specialising in Social Work and Social Policy.
In recent years, Mark has focused on service development, advising local authorities, commissioning groups and independent providers. He was a founder of the Institute of Recovery from Childhood Trauma before joining The Centre for Outcomes of Care, where he led the introduction of the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment to England.
Mark Kerr is the Chief Executive Officer of the Children’s Homes Association, driving the development and delivery of evidence-based solutions to improve children’s homes across England and Wales. He also represents the residential care sector on expert advisory groups for the Department for Education, NHS England, and Ofsted.
Naomi Bowler
Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer
Naomi provides strategic and operational support to the Chief Executive, ensuring effective coordination of governance, board activity, and organisational priorities across the Children’s Homes Association. She plays a key role in enabling executive delivery, supporting stakeholder engagement, and maintaining high standards of professionalism across the organisation’s work.
Naomi brings extensive experience across education, residential care, and health and social care settings. Her background includes senior operational and executive support roles, leading compliance and health and safety functions, overseeing budgets and financial reporting, managing large-scale projects including service acquisitions, and supporting regulatory readiness across children’s homes and SEN provisions.
With a strong foundation in governance, safeguarding, HR, and business improvement, Naomi combines strategic oversight with meticulous organisation to ensure operational excellence at every level.
Teri Short
Membership and Engagement Officer
Teri brings extensive experience across residential care in both England and Wales, having worked closely with children’s homes, teams, and leaders to support the delivery of high-quality, safe, and nurturing care. Her strong sector knowledge and practical insight enable her to effectively support members and strengthen engagement across the CHA network.
Teri is deeply committed to improving outcomes for children and young people, and her collaborative approach makes her a valued resource for members across the sector.
Outside of work, Teri is a keen horse rider, bringing the same sense of care, patience, and connection to her professional role.