Care Markets and Quality Forum Improving Care and Support: Business – but not as usual
Thursday 3rd May 2018
10.30am to 4-00pm
The next meeting of the Care Markets and Quality Forum is organised around the theme of ‘doing things differently’ in care and support.
The context is set by a recent report into market sustainability published by North West Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, which concluded “we cannot continue to support people in the same way as existing models of care will simply not be sustainable [and] that transformational change, both locally and at scale, is required to create a sustainable and vibrant market.” This challenge is likely to extend beyond the North West.
During the day we will hear about the work that Power for Change* is supporting to develop and grow the role of community businesses in the provision of care and support. Community businesses are rooted locally and trade for the benefit of the local community. To date, few have focused on care and support.
You will hear about the early stage work being undertaken to create a framework to support their development, with the opportunity to contribute your ideas and views on the potential for community businesses. The framework has relevance beyond community businesses with the potential to assist the response to the challenge of improving the quality, choice and diversity in the care and support market.
During the second part of the day the focus will be on how digital technology, when adopted thoughtfully, can enhance the provision of person-centred care. Greater use of technology is expected to be a key theme in the forthcoming Green Paper on older people and parallel programme for working age adults and there will be an opportunity to discuss and share how the role of technology can be extended in ways that benefit people.
*Power for Change is an independent charitable trust that supports and develops community businesses in England with endowment funding from the Big Lottery Fund.