National Care Association Annual Conference 2011 - Part 2

Thanks for all your feedback on the article posted yesterday.

Before part two, a quick reminder to please visit the members section of our website for photos, slides and presentations, which I'm sure you'll find helpful.

Following Dame Jo Williams CBE on the second day was Ann Macfarlane OBE, an ’Expert by Experience’ for the Care Quality Commission and service user. She captivated Conference with a powerful plea for the needs of the seriously disabled to be heard. She enlivened her talk by demonstrating how disabled people benefit from personalised individual care budgets, yet warned that people with high support needs are rarely heard. She also voiced real fears about some of the Dilnot proposals, particularly emphasising the distinct differences between a person with a lifetime of disability and someone who becomes disabled in later life.

ITV News Correspondent Chris Choi chaired a lively and successful ‘Question Time’ session that brought together Dame Gillian Wagner of the Residential Forum - who reviewed social changes since the Wagner report, published twenty years ago. Her analysis of current trends echoed the thoughts of other speakers, identifying a need for enhanced training and the encouragement of greater involvement by relatives, friends and the voluntary sector, in the context of current pressures on income and costs in residential care -.and Peter Hay, President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services - who urged NCA delegates to contact him to contribute ideas and opinions to shape the current consulation being undertaken by the Department of Health. He emphasised that involvement in the Engagement Process was essential. The Coalition Government had recognised the need to reform the financing of care and was the first Government to commit to such a radical reform with a timetable for delivery.

The following Q&A session produced lively questions from the floor that led to some passionate exchanges with the panel, expertly handled by Chris Choi who kept proceedings moving applying his skill to the vibrant and diverting discussions.

Sir Andrew Dillon Chief Executive of NICE spoke about the standards that NICE writes for the Health Service currently and explained that part of the Health Service reforms was expected to include similar standards being written for social care. This prompted many queries, with concerns expressed about the amassing of more layers of standards. The Conference felt that clarification was desperately needed.

NCA Chief Executive, Sheila Scott OBE, in her closing address announced that the political campaign would continue although the issues might change. Amongst the issues identified at Conference to campaign on were the continued downward pressure on fees without a recognition of the impact by the Commissioners of services. Other areas to be addressed in the coming months included fair and equal access to care for people with a learning disability and making sure that the provider view was heard in the Department of Health’s consultation on the future of long term care.

Nadra Ahmed OBE, Chairman of National Care Association concluded by calling on all providers of care to join National care Association in their next campaign as the last six month’s campaign had demonstrated the real impact that the care sector itself could have by working together.