Thursday 12th September 2024.
This unique gathering taking place at Coventry University’s LONDON site offers an unparalleled opportunity to shape health and social care integration, fostering a collaborative approach that benefits both sectors.
SPEAKERS
Present
Dr Claire Pryor
RCN Foundation Chair in Adult Social Care Nursing,
University of Salford
Bio
Dr Claire Pryor the first RCN Foundation Chair in Adult Social Care Nursing in the UK.
The new role has been created in partnership with the RCN Foundation to take a strategic lead in shaping research and education in adult social care nursing at a local, national and international level. Dr Pryor will be based in the University’s Nursing and Midwifery Directorate in the School of Health and Society, which is the largest specialist provider of nursing and midwifery education in the region.
Previously Claire was an Assistant Professor in adult nursing, working with allied health professions and nursing students at Northumbria University. Claire’s specialist interest in care of older people started as a volunteer cadet in St John Ambulance, before undertaking her nursing degree in adult nursing. During her studies Claire worked as a nursing assistant in a local care home for older people spanning residential, nursing and specialist dementia care provision.
Upon qualification Claire commenced her clinical career working as a staff nurse in a medical assessment unit, before moving to critical care. Taking a junior sister position in community intermediate care sparked an interest in the wider health and social care context for Claire, working with a wide variety of professions, organisations and carers to support people to remain living well in their own homes or places of residence.
This work centred on comprehensive clinical assessments and partnership working to ensure safe care at home, or to plan appropriate transfer of care to or from other health or social care settings. Following this, Claire worked as a specialist older persons nurse/advanced nurse practitioner in a mental health inpatient setting providing support for mental health nurses and psychiatrists in relation to the physical health and wellbeing of their service users.
Working in mental health services sparked an interest in delirium superimposed on dementia and the complexity around the conditions, care provision and understanding of the condition.
Moving to the University in 2016, Claire maintained close clinical contacts, working as a bank nurse, and bringing her practical and clinical knowledge base into nurse and allied health professional education. Latterly, Claire returned to St John Ambulance and the NHS to work as a vaccinator in the Nightingale hospital and community. Claire’s educational practice centres on specialist nursing care for the older person including frailty, including the anatomy and physiology of ageing, delirium, and non-medical prescribing. Claire works closely with key stakeholders to ensure partnerships are maintained with clinical practice, the needs and wishes of the workforce, and strategic future planning of curricula. This work is cross cutting, including health and social care services, and for all levels of clinicians and workforce. Current workforce developments include the Enhances Care of Older People competency framework and devising a new Adult Social Care Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ)
Samantha Crawley
Chief Executive Officer, Bracebridge Care Group &
Director of the Outstanding Society
Bio
Samantha is a positive, proactive, and dynamic professional. She has a highly successful background spanning over 20 years in sales, marketing, operational delivery and business development within the care home sector. A Master NLP Practitioner, Hypnotherapy and Business Coach, Samantha loves to share information and mentor future leaders.
Having held senior positions in the sector’s larger providers, such as Barchester Healthcare, Anchor Trust, Sanctuary Group and Excelcare, Samantha has the ideal experience to develop the Bracebridge Care portfolio – and the knowledge required to ensure its success.
Samantha is a non-exec Director of The Outstanding Society, Samantha was awarded The Social Care Leadership award in 2023 and in 2024 was awarded the Leading Women in Care Award – Businesswoman of the year (Care Homes). Samantha was awarded the Chief Nurse Social Care Award in December 2022 for people who go above and beyond their roles.
Ruth French
Director of Operations, Stow Healthcare &
Director of the Outstanding Society
Bio
Prior to joining Stow Healthcare in 2011, Ruth spent a decade working for Central Government (Department for Trade and Industry, later Business, Innovation and Skills, and the Cabinet Office) in London. Ruth led government policy on Trade and Climate Change and Gas Supply Infrastructure amongst other roles. She was part of the European Secretariat, headed by the Prime Minister’s Europe Advisor, which oversaw the UK’s Presidency of the EU in 2005.
Since joining Stow Healthcare, a family business that she runs with her brother, Ruth has been focused on change management. Stow Healthcare generally acquires failed homes and turns them into homes with an Outstanding rating. Four of Stow’s eight homes are now rated Outstanding. Ruth’s background in policy making and people management have supported the phenomenal growth of the company. Her focus is on providing a family feel, quality care, and staff who are passionate about their career.
During the course of decade, Stow Healthcare has been recognised at national level, winning Care Provider/Care Group of the Year multiple times. Ruth was named Operations Manager of the Year in 2016, and Rising Star of the Year at the 2021 Laing Buisson awards. Ruth has also been part of national Workforce Development award success, which is something she is passionate about.
Ruth holds an honours degree in German and Italian with European Studies and a L5 qualification in Health and Social Care Leadership
Zoë Fry – OBE. BSc – RN
Outstanding Society Director, SCNAAC Chair South East Region
Bio
Zoë’s love for the older generation started in her teens when she worked in nursing homes as a care assistant. This led her to train to become a nurse and start her career initially in the NHS. She had several clinical roles, working her way up to become a ward sister and then a Matron in Medicine while working on her Nursing Degree. Zoë then became a General Manager in the NHS, where she gained many business management skills. In 2008, Zoë completed the purchase of Valerie Manor, a small residential home registered for 15 residents. She soon extended and managed the project, extending the home to 23 beds and becoming dual-registered to provide much-needed nursing care.
In 2015, Zoë was delighted that Valerie Manor became the first home in West Sussex to receive an Outstanding rating from the CQC and then again in 2017, receiving an Outstanding rating in 4 out of 5 of the KLOE’s including ‘safe’.
While owning Valerie Manor the team won several awards including the National Care team of the year, Independent Individual Care Home, Care Home Innovation and Best Nursing Care.
In 2021 Zoë made the difficult decision to sell Valerie Manor and focus on the Outstanding Society and be a positive voice for the Social Care profession.
In 2023 Zoe was recognised for Services in Social Care and Services to Nursing by being awarded an OBE in the Kings Birthday Honours List. Zoe feels privileged to work in Social Care.
Scarlett MacDonald
Co-Chair South East SCNAC &
Commissioning Manager
Caring Homes Group
Bio
Scarlett is the Commissioning Manager for Caring Homes Group and a Nurse by background.
Scarlett has worked in a number of environments and maintains her Nurse competency.
Scarlett has a passion for excellence in Social Care and Nursing. She has a passion for ensuring everyone has a voice at the decision-making table, equality, treating people fairly and women in leadership making a difference.
Andrea Lewis
Regional Chief Nursing Officer - South East
Bio
Since leaving the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) as a Full Colonel in June 2017, Andrea Lewis has had a career within the NHS. She was Chief Nurse at Ashford and St Peters NHS Foundation Trust and has since beginning of August 2023 been Regional Chief Nurse South East England, NHS England.
Andrea joined the QARANC in January 1994 as a newly qualified Nurse and Private Soldier. She then commissioned in Oct 1996 and during her Army career has undertaken various Clinical and Command and Staff roles. She has deployed with Field Hospitals to Bosnia, Iraq and latterly was Commanding Officer of the UK Military Hospital in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan as Commanding Officer of 22 Field Hospital. It was from her tour in Afghanistan that she was awarded the Royal Red Cross for inspirational leadership.
Andrea lives in Camberley, Surrey and is married to Russell Lewis MC (Grenadier Guards). Russell is an Ex-Regular Officer and now a Reservist who is about to take up Command of the London Guards Regiment. Andrea has a 15 year old daughter Sophie who attends Farnborough Hill School for Girls. Andrea has a BSc in Infection Control and MSc in Healthcare Management and Policy and completed the NHS Leadership Academy Director’s Programme on leaving the Army
Anthony Birmingham
Chair North East & Yorkshire SCNAC &
RNLD – Registered Manager – Positive Individual Proactive Support (PIPS)
Bio
From beginning my time in social care in 2011, working as a support worker with adults with learning disabilities, autism, and complex and challenging behaviours, I qualified as RNLD in 2016.
Remaining within social care was important to me as I recognised the need for the skills and experience a nurse can bring to the support offered outside of inpatient or other health-led services. I wanted to be part of that!
There were comments and questions from colleagues around my choice, which meant initially, the decision brought a feeling that beginning my nursing career in social care might not have been the best plan; I soon recognised this couldn’t be further from the truth. I very quickly learned that social care nurses are something special!
I was able to develop a wide range of skills and knowledge, and I built resilience and confidence through autonomous work and learning, as well as through lone working opportunities I was offered. I have worked in various roles since qualifying, both hands-on with people supported, leading teams as a practice leader, and my current role managing operations across multiple services. All as a Social Care Nurse.
The skills and qualities of social care nurses are highly prized and need to be celebrated both by us as a sector and as widely as possible. I am both grateful and excited to be able to chair the North East and Yorkshire SCNAC. It’s a forum that I hope will give the opportunity to raise the social care nursing voice, celebrate and showcase the great work social care nurses do, and, importantly, highlight the possibilities available in social care open to our future aspiring nurses.
There is a world of opportunity and chance to make a huge difference in Social Care Nursing, and I am glad to be a part of that.
Karen Roberts
Co-Chair North East & Yorkshire SCNAC &
Group Head of Health & Clinical Governance Quality
Lifeways Group
Bio
I am a Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse and Queens Nurse and have worked in Social care and for Lifeways for 25 years.
My current role sees me having responsibility for all health and well-being related policies, providing advice and guidance to colleagues, supporting people to ensure they receive any reasonable adjustments they may need, providing clinical supervision, working with our Learning and Development team to ensure colleagues are suitably trained to carry out their roles, clinical governance, ensuring we are always working towards best practice guidelines and initiatives.
I love working in social care and seeing the people we support grow and develop and reach their full potential through the fantastic support they receive.
Julie Clennell
Joint Regional Chief Nurse, North East & Yorkshire
Bio
Hello. My name is Julie Clennell, and I am currently the Joint Regional Chief Nurse (Interim) in NHS England’s North East and Yorkshire team.
I have worked in the NHS and higher education for 38 years as a clinician, academic, and senior leader, with posts spanning primary and secondary care as well as the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sectors.
I am registered with the NMC as an adult nurse, district nurse, prescriber and teacher.
Before joining NHS England, I was Executive Director of Nursing, AHPs and Quality in Locala Health & Wellbeing. In this role, I was part of a unitary board that was accountable for professional standards and development, clinical quality, safeguarding adults and children, and clinical governance across the organisation.
In addition, I assumed the roles of Caldicott Guardian, Director of Infection Prevention and Control and had managerial oversight of the Medical Adviser to the Board.
I have also held Associate Director roles in Risk and Clinical Governance, Nursing, and Professional Development as well as senior positions at Teesside University in the School of Health and Social Care.
In addition, I am a Queens Nurse, NMC Fitness to Practice Committee Member, Editorial Board Member for British Journal of Community Nursing as well as a leadership mentor.
However, and most importantly I am a mother, daughter, partner and friend to some incredible individuals who fuel my unwavering passion for the delivery of high quality health and social care and without whom I would not be able to continue to strive to improve individual, family and population health care experiences through the development of individuals, teams, organisations and systems.
Charlotte Fry RN DN QN
Chair South West SCNAC
Independent Nurse Consultant
Bio
I have more than 30 years’ experience working in Health & Adult Social Care. I started my career as a Care Assistant working in a Care Home, which provided the foundations of care and communication skills that I have been with me throughout my career.
During my nursing career I have worked on acute care of the older person ward, community nursing where I gained District Nurse qualification and specialist community teams including care home support and safeguarding adult.
I have also worked in Social Care as a Senior Nurse. I now work independently delivering training and support to health and social care providers.
In 2019 I was awarded Queens Nurse title by the Queens Nursing Institute. The QN award recognises a high level of commitment and leadership in Community Nursing.
In my spare time I am an active member of the local Women’s Institute. I am also Carer Representative on Royal United Hospital Bath End of Life and Palliative Care Steering Group.
Having worked in health and social care for many years I am aware of the realities of providing quality care in an ever-changing work environment and very much looking forward to working with South West ICB’s and Social Care Nurses to have a voice within the ICB.
Sue Doheny
Regional Chief Nurse - NHS England South West
Bio
Sue has been a board level director in the NHS for provider and commissioning organisations across different health and social care economies for over 15 years.
Sue started her nursing career in London following her training in Cardiff. Following the birth of her first daughter she moved to Herefordshire to work as a community nurse in intermediate care. Herefordshire had the first joint Chief Executive of the PCT and Local Authority and Sue formed part of the joint executive team as Director of Quality and Nursing. Sue then worked across the West Midlands in various roles including Locality Director, Director of Operations, Director of Nursing and Managing Director.
Sue’s passion for quality led to her completing a Masters Degree at Birmingham University in Health Service Improvement. Her current role is working as Regional Chief Nurse within NHS England. Sue continues to work with all stakeholders to ensure that high quality services are delivered that are clinically led, patient focussed and outcome driven.
Shelagh Meldrum
Chief Nursing Officer & Director of Operations - NHS Somerset ICB
Bio
Shelagh started her nursing career in 1991 in the South East of England following a path through acute hospital care both in the NHS and independent sector undertaking a variety of senior nursing, Chief Executive and Executive Director posts.
Shelagh’s current post is as Chief Nursing Officer and Director of Operations for NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board, a post that has enabled her to step outside of the four walls of a hospital and really get to grips with the needs of the population and the wider health, care and support family – a job full of learning, collaboration with the beauty of very few boundaries.
Louise Keane
Co-Chair Lonson SCNAC
Nurse Educator Lead for North Central London (NCL) Adult Social Care.
Bio
Working as a nurse for 35 years across all sectors in the UK and overseas. Her roles have included being a Care Quality Commission inspector (CQC), service manager in a local authority and setting up and managing a step downward in NCL during covid-19.
Her team have won 3 national awards, HSJ and the Burdett nursing award. She recently received the Karen Downs Lifetime Achievement Award from NHS innovation collaborative for digital health.
Using her experience in Health and Social Care, Louise and her team of nurses have rolled out digital technology and education into ASC in NCL.
Dr Tania Kalsi
Geriatrician
Bio
Dr Tania Kalsi is a consultant geriatrician in London. She has a specialist interest in integrated care, cross organisational working and innovation with a track record in delivering change in older people services.
Working with the care sector is particularly close to her heart, and she was instrumental in the transformation of health support for care homes in her local area over the last decade, with particularly exemplary support during the pandemic.
She continues to drives transformation for older people in Southwark and Lambeth, as well as regionally for South East London and advocating nationally.
Caroline Clifton
Managing Director Clifton Homecare Limited,
Non-Executive Director The Outstanding Society and HCPC registered Paramedic
Bio
Caroline Cosh has been involved in the social care sector since the age of 11. Caroline’s family owned a residential home which she worked at whilst attending school, college and university. During that time Caroline carried out every role within the Residential home, later being approved by CQC to become Registered Manager.
In 2004 Caroline joined North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) as an Emergency Medical Technician, becoming a Paramedic in 2007. Caroline and her mother set up a Domiciliary Care company; Clifton Homecare Limited in 2013 after selling the Residential home. Caroline is Managing Director for the business which is located in Lancashire, whilst continuing to work as a Paramedic for NWAS. Caroline takes responsibility for regulatory compliance, quality assurance, policy and procedure, Human Resources and staff training and development at Clifton Homecare.
Caroline feels proud not only to support clients living on the Fylde Coast but also to work alongside a team of truly dedicated, caring, compassionate and professional staff.
Caroline utilises her knowledge and experience to upskill her staff team, enabling the company to meet the ever-changing needs of the community and this has been reflected in 2 CQC inspections where the company was rated Outstanding. To date Clifton Homecare has won many awards including The BIBAs New Business of the Year Award (2016), The BIBAs Employer of the Year award (2023), Fylde Business Awards; Active Workplace of the Year (2023), The Department for Health and Social care’s team award, recognition for outstanding contributions that teams have on the lives of people they care for.
Caroline works closely with The Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB representing social care in strategic regional meetings such as Apprenticeships and T level delivery and support. She has also developed strong ties locally with prominent care leaders including her Constituency MP helping ensure the voice of the care sector is heard.
Caroline has completed a BSC in Equine Science and Business Management, a Post Graduate Diploma in Equine Health and Welfare, Level 5 in Health and Social Care Leadership, a Diploma in Paramedic Science and various Charted Management Institute Coaching and Mentoring and Leadership qualifications.
Martin Uhelak
Hetherington Group Healthcare
Bio
Martin Uhelak leads Hetherington Healthcare Group, a network of pharmacies and medical wholesaling operations across England and London.
With over 15 years of experience spanning hospital, community pharmacy, and international sectors in Slovakia, Czechia, the USA, and the UK, Martin focuses on delivering clinical excellence and fostering community care.
His business was recognized for its vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a visit from former NHS CEO Sir Simon Stevens, acknowledging the positive social impact. Through a commitment to innovation and technology, Martin continues to drive growth and adaptability in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
Dr Lyann Gross
Assistant Medical Director GP - London Ambulance Service Temple Fortune Medical Group
Bio
Lyann is a North London GP, who also looks after a large local care home with a unique model of enhanced medical cover.
After a chance encounter on an ambulance shift a special interest in the interface between the community and the ambulance service was born.
Initially working as a Consultant for LAS sponsored by HEE she spent 5 years as the Urgent & Emergency Care Clinical Lead for NCL ICB.
She was appointed as Assistant Medical Director for London Ambulance Service in 2022 where she supports the Clinical Hub as well as workstreams including care Homes, maternity and Specialist Paramedics