Day one at the Care Show was a huge success for The Outstanding Society Learning Lounge.
The day began with an engaging talk from Chris Badger, the new Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care at CQC. Chris brought fresh energy and insight, clearly demonstrating an understanding of providers and the challenges they face. His commitment to rebuilding strong local relationships and reconnecting with frontline teams is a promising step forward for the sector — both in the short and long term.
Throughout the day, the Learning Lounge was buzzing with meaningful discussions focused on learning from near misses, sharing best practice, and driving improvement across adult social care. It’s been fantastic to see so many people eager to engage, share experiences, and learn together.
We were delighted to see the return of the OSDF Roundtable, bringing together passionate voices to explore how we can push forward equality, diversity, and inclusion for all within Social Care. It was another inspiring discussion, filled with insight, reflection, and clear action points to drive meaningful change across the sector. A huge thank you to Ashfield Services for kindly providing refreshments as we closed the Learning Lounge on the first day of the show — a wonderful way to end such a thought-provoking session.
Day two began with a powerful and immersive Coroner’s Court session in the Keynote area, offering real-world insights into risk, accountability, and learning from experience.
From there, the focus shifted back to the Learning Lounge, where discussions on staff wellbeing and managing workplace pressures took centre stage — crucial themes as we head into the challenging winter period.
Later in the day, two packed sessions explored CQC inspections — from being prepared and confident, to understanding the upcoming regulatory changes. Having the CQC directly involved in these sessions added real value, giving providers clarity, reassurance, and a chance to ask important questions.
The atmosphere throughout the second day was buzzing — with providers from both residential and home care services filling the Lounge, sharing insights, and celebrating best practice across the sector.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us — the conversations, collaboration, and positivity are what make the Learning Lounge so special.
and finally.....
We were thrilled to celebrate Caroline Cosh, Managing Director and Registered Manager of Clifton Homecare and The Outstanding Society’s Director of Homecare, who was presented with a prestigious Gold Chief Nurse Award by Professor Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, at the show.
This honour recognises Caroline’s exceptional leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding care and inspiring excellence across the sector. Her passion for promoting quality, innovation, and compassion within homecare truly embodies the values that drive our community forward.
Congratulations, Caroline — a well-deserved recognition of your remarkable contribution!
