Scottish Care’s Care Home Conference is a highlight of the social care calendar north of the wall. Caledonian Carers from across the country congregate in Glasgow to share experiences, insights and ambitions. The day features engaging talks from political and care leaders, as well as interactive workshops and an incredible awards show. We must understand and engage with care providers across the UK, and we cherished the opportunity to meet so many shining examples of Scotland’s care sector.
Standing to Attention at the Care Home Conference
The Glasgow Hilton quickly filled with a buzz of excitement around the ballroom and exhibition halls. We set out our humble stall and welcomed guests from across Scotland. Care takes a myriad of forms, shaped by the people, communities and cultures in which each service is based. We know there is no better way to understand your experiences than engaging with providers directly. The opportunity to meet so many Scottish carers was crucial to ensuring we continue to support them as effectively as possible. Additionally, as we were positioned next to the main speaking area, we had front-row seats for the major discussions of the day.
A Fiery Fireside Chat
The first talk of the Care Home Show was perhaps the most heated. An ideal way to banish the cold November morning from our bones. Four representatives from Scotland’s leading political parties shared the stage to discuss the state of social care in Scotland.
The Scottish National Party’s Cabinet Secretary for Health & Social Care, Neil Gray MSP
Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party Dame, Jackie Baillie MSP
Scottish Conservative’s Shadow Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform, Brian Whittle MSP
Scottish Greens‘ Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, Gillian Mackay MSP
The crux of this conversation was the proposed National Care Service. An undertaking further down the production line than that of Labour’s proposal in Westminster. The Scottish government recently paused their plans for the National Care Service. So they could review their current plans and make sure they have the right proposals lined up for next year. Neil Gray remains ‘absolutely committed’ to the plan and points to the recent ‘progress over austerity’ approach the SNP are championing.
Several pressing issues were raised by the panel. Brian Whittle pointed to the growing number of ‘care homes being swallowed by councils’. Gillian Mackay built upon this assertion when she spoke about the ‘smaller care homes in trouble’ across Scotland. An issue exasperated by inflation; inflation Gillian attributed to the previous decisions of the Conservative government under Liz Truss. Dame Baillie spoke of the ambition of the National Care Service proposals of Labour’s Westminster manifesto and how they align and relate to the current Scottish plan.
A Common Understanding (and an Expected Outcome)
Following a brief Q&A Neil Gray drew the conversation to a close highlighting the challenges of ‘trying to tackle service variance’. Something we can appreciate as learning more about the unique Scottish services is what brought us to Glasgow too. Throughout the panel the politicians were quick to talk about responsibility and slow to acknowledge their respective parties’ contributions to the current state of care. However, there was a denominating understanding. All representatives pointed to the need to treat carers with respect. As well as the need for a renewed focus on ‘the true cost of care’. While the future remains uncertain, you can be sure Scottish Care will do everything in their power to be a part of shaping it.
Care Home Conference Insight Sessions
The next portion of the day involved a series of workshops. These were designed to help attendees learn about a specific point of interest to them. Interactivity was king as the lively conversations spilled out from their respective rooms and into the lunch area. We attended ‘Building Confidence in Digital and Data for Care Homes’. Nicola Cooper, Scottish Care’s Technology and Digital Innovation Lead, and Cheryl Stevenson, Care Technologist, led the session.
Everyone in the room shared their experiences with digitisation. Most providers felt they are ‘quite far along in their process but not excelling’. A common challenge of upskilling effectively emerged. Time, cost and resources for digitising workforces are hard to find. In response, Nicola Cooper spoke about the digital and data compatibility framework Scottish Care are developing. Cheryl Stevenson built upon this point when she detailed some aspects of her Care Technologist role. Including their monthly cyber security meetings. Finally, the session drew to a close with a discussion on the digital health and care leadership programme, and how attendees can get involved.
Weekday Wow Banish the Post Lunch Slump
The afternoon talks covered some more specific issues facing care providers. Although before they took to the stage Weekday Wow Factor addressed the challenge facing the attendees, the post-lunch slump. They hosted a rousing dance party as their members led the hall through some pop classics. We all got moving and were well-energised for the afternoon speakers.
Professor Lesley Palmer, Professor of Ageing and Dementia Design, Stirling University, led a session on the importance of architecture in care home design. Tommy Whitelaw, National Lead Person Centred Voices, Alliance Scotland, followed after. His uplifting session highlighted the ways we can come together as a sector, and the humans at the centre and in the driving seat of transformative social care.
The Four V’s of the Care Home Conference’s Building Possibility Revolution
The last talk of the day was led by Scottish Care’s CEO and Deputy CEO Dr Donald Macaskill and Karen Hedge. They outlined their recently launched 5 year plan for social care. They outlined ‘the four V’s’ of their plan, that social care should be Visible, Viable, Valued and Visionary. An inspiring invitation to join Scottish Care as they build towards the future. A future underpinned by the understanding that ‘you [Care Providers] are not in the business of maintaining people, you are in the business of enabling people to flourish’. Helping people to flourish is what we do best here at Nourish, so we were immediately on board!
Scottish Care Home Conference Awards
We left the venue shortly thereafter to prepare for the awards show. An evening of celebrations and shaking tail feathers marshalled by the inimitable Michelle McManus. It was a wonderful time. We are especially grateful to our friends from Care Concern Group and Community Integrated Care who joined us.
The atmosphere was one of elevation. Every nominee took to the stage to raptuous, and well deserved, applause. We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of the nominees and winners, including our friends from HC-One and Priory Group.
Aft Gang Away
We thoroughly enjoyed our time up in Scotland. The Care Home Conference and the Awards were incredible experiences. To see so much joy, pride and dedication in person is always inspiring. Many plans were made for the future of social care, and thanks to the stars we found to follow, we won’t be going agley any time soon.
