The countdown is on! The Care Show Birmingham 2026 takes place next week, Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 October, and we’re looking forward to welcoming friends, colleagues, partners and new faces to The Outstanding Society (OS) Learning Lounge – T1.
If you haven’t secured your free ticket yet, there’s still time. Come along, say hello to the OS team and join us for two days of conversation, shared learning and practical ideas from across social care.
The OS Learning Lounge has always been about bringing people together. It’s a relaxed and welcoming space where people working across the sector can step away from the busy exhibition floor, hear different perspectives, share their own experiences and, importantly, learn from one another.
This year we have another packed programme, exploring everything from complaints, falls and end-of-life planning to reflective practice, team wellbeing, funding and what really makes care feel like home.
Here’s what you can join us for.
Wednesday 7 October – Day One
We start Day One by looking at some of the challenges, learning and opportunities that matter to organisations delivering great care.
10:15–10:55 | Keeping Complaints Constructive – The Year in Review
Complaints can provide some of our most valuable opportunities for learning. This session looks back at the year and explores how providers can keep conversations constructive, learn from concerns and use feedback to drive improvement.
11:15–11:55 | Outstanding Falls Management Processes: Risk, Response and Reflection
Falls management requires much more than simply responding to an incident. We’ll consider the importance of risk, response and reflection and explore approaches that support safer, person-centred care.
12:15–12:55 | Good Nights: Discussing Outstanding Techniques and Tools for Great Support Overnight
Great care doesn’t stop at the end of the day. This session puts the spotlight on overnight support, sharing techniques, tools and ideas for helping people feel safe, comfortable and well supported throughout the night.
13:30–14:10 | End of Life Planning
Join us for an important conversation around end-of-life planning and how thoughtful, compassionate preparation can help ensure people’s wishes, choices and priorities remain at the centre of their care.
14:30–15:10 | Learning from the LGBTQ+ Ageing White Paper
We’ll explore the learning emerging from the LGBTQ+ Ageing White Paper and consider what it means for social care, including how we can ensure services remain inclusive, informed and responsive to the people they support.
15:30–16:15 | The Safeguarding Case
We’ll round off the first day with The Safeguarding Case, an important keynote session exploring safeguarding and the learning it provides for our sector.
Please note: this session takes place in the Key Note Theatre, rather than The OS Learning Lounge.
Thursday 8 October – Day Two
We’ll be back bright and early on Thursday, with Day Two focusing on culture, wellbeing, outcomes, finance and the learning we can take back into our organisations.
10:15–10:55 | Building a Culture of Reflective Practice
How do we create environments where reflection becomes part of everyday practice rather than something we only do when things go wrong? This session explores how reflective practice can strengthen teams, learning and continuous improvement.
11:15–11:55 | What Makes Care Feel Like Home?
What turns a care environment into somewhere that genuinely feels like home? We’ll explore the experiences, relationships and approaches that can make a real difference to the people who live and work within care services.
12:15–12:55 | Team Wellbeing: Supporting Your Team to Better Support People
Supporting others starts with supporting our teams. This session considers practical approaches to wellbeing and the connection between a well-supported workforce and great outcomes for people receiving care.
12:15–13:00 | Data Theatre: Using Data to Optimise Outcomes with Vivaldi Social Care and GASCD
Also taking place at 12:15, you can join Vivaldi Social Care and GASCD in the Data Theatre for a session exploring how data can be used intelligently to understand performance, inform decisions and optimise outcomes.
Please note: this session takes place in the Data Theatre, rather than The OS Learning Lounge.
13:45–14:25 | Money Counts: Challenging Finance and Funding Decisions
Funding and financial decisions have a very real impact on people, providers and the wider social care system. Join the conversation as we explore the challenges and consider how decisions can be questioned and challenged.
15:00–15:40 | The OS and Partners: Reflections on the Two Days
And finally, we’ll bring two busy days to a close alongside our partners, reflecting on the conversations, insights and learning that have emerged from across the show.
Come and Say Hello!
Whether you join us for one session, spend a few hours with us or keep coming back throughout both days, we’d love to see you.
The Learning Lounge is as much about the conversations between sessions as the sessions themselves. It’s a chance to meet colleagues from across social care, make new connections, share what is working in your organisation and discover ideas you can take away and use.
And, of course, please come and say hello to The Outstanding Society team. We’d love to hear about the work you’re doing and what matters to you.
Haven’t got your ticket yet?
There’s still time to secure your FREE ticket to The Care Show Birmingham 2026.
📅 Wednesday 7 & Thursday 8 October 2026
📍 NEC Birmingham
💜 Find The Outstanding Society at The OS Learning Lounge – T1
Get your free ticket, add your favourite Learning Lounge sessions to your diary and come and join us. We can’t wait to see you there!
