Interim director in nursing homes: the ESMS sector in shortage of leaders?

Mathieu Furnon

Rédacteur Wayden

Article publié le 3 August 2026

It is estimated that there are currently 150,000 vacancies in the social and medico-social sector in France (Source: mieuxvivreautravail.opco-sante.fr). To compensate for this shortage of talent and qualified leaders encountered by the ESMS (Establishment or Medico-Social Service) sector, using an interim director in a nursing home is a particularly strategic solution. But what is its role? And what are the advantages of calling on this professional to respond to the growing recruitment problems of these establishments? The answers in this article.

 

The ESMS sector faces a shortage of leaders

Establishments in the ESMS sector, and in particular EHPADs (Residential Establishments for Dependent Elderly People), are currently under great pressure. In addition to regulatory and budgetary challenges and the saturation of services, The sector is also experiencing difficulties in recruiting qualified staff. The reason: the lack of attractiveness of the sector, the demanding working conditions, often unattractive salaries, a lack of recognition… As a result, early departures are multiplying, recruitment is struggling to be completed and vacancies are getting longer, which has a direct impact on the proper functioning of the establishment, increases the workload of the teams and affects the quality of service and care.

Interim director in nursing homes: what is his role?

The interim director is an external professional who can intervene for a variable period of time (generally from 6 to 18 months). It stands out for his long career in positions of high responsibility in various environments, his great adaptability and his strong sense of leadership.

He brings an outside perspective and a strategic vision that is particularly beneficial to the institution. In addition, thanks to its many Human and managerial qualities (interpersonal skills, active listening, relational intelligence, etc.), they quickly gain the trust of the teams and unite employees around a strong common vision.

In nursing homes, the Interim Director can intervene to fill a vacancy and replace a director who has left his or her position (in the context of an early departure, for example). He may also be asked to Crisis management (non-compliance, social tensions, reports to the ARS – Regional Health Agency, decrease in public funding, etc.). Finally, the Interim Director in a nursing home can intervene to steer a large-scale transformation project (digitalization of processes, optimization of the care pathway, modernization of services, merger of establishments, etc.).

 

Why call on an interim director in a nursing home in the face of the shortage of leaders in the ESMS sector?

To deal with the shortage of leaders encountered by the ESMS sector and the related governance issues, use an interim director in a nursing home is particularly judicious. This makes it possible to ensure managerial continuity after an early departure, until the recruitment of a new internal manager.

The interim manager can intervene in an emergency, to fill the vacancy on a temporary basis, for a period determined in advance.

Operational from day one, he takes over, supervises the teams and fulfills all the missions attached to this management position. In addition, he proposes, throughout the mission, solutions to improve the quality of the service, to maximize the quality of the operational efficiency, to strengthen family satisfaction, and to improve the social climate.

Thanks to his neutral and external view, he quickly identifies corrective areas, priority measures and possible malfunctions. It can also help the nursing home to deploy appropriate actions to To respond sustainably to the recruitment problems encountered by the establishment: improvement of the quality of life at work; enhancement of the employer brand; optimization of the management of career paths, etc.

 

Are you looking for an Interim Director in a nursing home? Our interim management company WAYDEN mobilizes, at short notice, A highly qualified interim manager and specialized in the medico-social sector. Thanks to his know-how, his proven methodological support and his interpersonal skills, he intervenes with the greatest operational excellence and helps you meet the organizational and human challenges encountered by your medical and social establishment.


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