I was privileged to be invited to #CNOSummit2023 to represent Adult Social Care.

This was the most inspiring two days I have had for a while.

The summit started with Martha’s story with her mum telling us of her tragic experience within the NHS that led to her death and, ultimately Martha’s rule.

Martha shouldn’t have died, and concerns from her parents and Martha should’ve been listened to.

This reminded me that we always need to remember that the people we support (whatever age) and those closest to them are experts in their own care.

Dame Ruth May, CNO England gave a keynote speech unveiling her new 7P’s as part of CNO Strategy, these include:

• Protecting our planet
• Prevention, Protection, Promotion and reducing health inequalities.
• Person Centred Practice
• People Safety and Quality Improvement
• Professional Leadership and Integration
• People and Workforce Development
• Professional Culture

New 7Ps for nursing unveiled as part of CNO strategy | Nursing Times.
We heard from youth board members of NHSE Children’s and Young Persons Board, 3 exceptional young people. It was enlightening listening about their priorities and wishes for the future NHS.

The youth board’s message was … make decisions about Children’s and young persons services with children and young people…. It’s us using your services. A thought that should be replicated regardless of the age of the person using health and social care services.

I attended a breakout session about person-centred care, another focus of Ruth’s strategy. This session gave me time to reflect and think about whether I am truly person-centred and what does that mean. I think I am but am I really…. This is also a thought that I’d like to share with SCNAC Board in the future

The summit gave me plenty of opportunities to network, as chair for Somerset ICB SCNAC, I was able to meet my Chief Nurse as well as the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Chief nurse, this enabled a face-to-face conversation about how we can work together in the future, integrating Social Care, Community Health and Acute sector health and social care for the benefits of the people we serve.

As Amanda Pritchard, CEO of NHSE discussed in her keynote speech, ‘reflecting on how we can achieve more people living healthier and longer lives and this only being possible through working across systems’ (Prof Jamie Waterall, X post 16.11.23)

The first day finished with a networking reception this gave further opportunity to catch up with fellow SCNAC Chairs in attendance, at times like this you really do appreciate being in the room together, their support and discussions have been invaluable in supporting me in setting up my own Somerset ICB SCNAC.

Day 2 started with a session by Sir Tom Hughes-Hallett, founder of Helpforce and Co-Chair of NHS Volunteering Taskforce, about the future of volunteering in the NHS, I reflect on how volunteers could support Adult Social Care providers, the discussion we had with him was about the practical aspects of volunteering for example collecting prescriptions for care homes rather than finding staff to do so.

The bar was raised for Adult Social Care at the summit in both having representatives at the summit but also leading a panel discussion. Adult Social Care: Possibilities, Passion and Progress opened the narrative to integrated working, giving an insight into Adult Social Care Nursing, including the rewards of supporting a dying person with their last wishes to resilience and challenges of isolated working.

This session also reminded us that Adult Social Care nursing isn’t just care home nursing, and this was identified in the panel where we had a nurse working in domiciliary care supporting people at home from children with life-limiting conditions, people with complex physical and learning disabilities to people who live alone with no family support at end of life and want to die at home. There was also an
occupational health nurse who provided social care support to the farming community in her area. Adult social care is diverse, and we need to consider how we support all the areas of Adult Social Care in the Community.

Another focus area of Ruth’s is prevention, promotion and protection and reducing health inequalities, listening to Prof Jamie Waterall, Deputy Chief Public Health Nurse for England, Sarah Gigg, Deputy Director Nursing, Midwifery and AHP’s UKHSA and Kendra Schneller, MBE Nurse Practitioner H&HI speaking about these in a breakout session I reflected on where do social care nurses see themselves in the public health role and how do we address health equity? I believe it’s the heart of our work
but questions I want to take back in my roles supporting Social Care Nursing.

The session on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion discussed combatting discriminatory practices in health and care, whilst progress has been made, we still have a long way to go, the takeaway for me is we all have a voice, and we all need to use it to speak up when we see or hear it. Another discussion that Adult Social Care should be keeping open.

The summit has given me a chance to reflect on the current climate within health and social care, our challenges but also the progress and possibilities we have, especially for a more integrated approach.

The opportunities to meet and network with so many nurse leaders has been fantastic, and I’m looking forward to putting these experiences and opportunities into practice in my roles as Somerset ICB SCNAC Chair, QNI Infection Prevention & Control Champions Network Lead and as an Independent Nurse supporting Adult Social Care.