TUESDAY 9 NOVEMBER - With Somerset Carers at the NCF Managers Conference

After a long but faultlessly smooth journey back home from sunny Southern California and a short weekend at home with log fires burning to keep out the November gloom, it was off early on Monday morning to the NCF Managers' Conference. The venue was the majestic Tortworth Court Hotel and Conference Centre in South Gloucestershire.


The Hotel has provided the venue for these conferences for several years. The staff look after the delegates very well and many managers comment on the gracious and elegant surroundings and the friendly warm atmosphere of the Hotel. The conference was attended by 180 delegates from the NCF membership, friends and supporters. 24 hours of concentrated presentations and workshops on topics of direct professional relevance to front line managers of care services, interspersed by a reception, an excellent dinner and much hilarity and animated conversation in the bar into the small hours. It was a great pleasure to be able to spend a most enjoyable evening in the company of so many wonderful managers of services, including 12 colleagues from across the Somerset Care Group.


Our leader at this event and conference chair was the Director of Policy and Communication of the NCF, Sharon Blackburn.


The agenda of the conference was designed to offer delegates a comprehensive overview of the social care scene relevant to its theme of "Innovation and improvement at a time of change - the role of the manager".
Further details of the conference agenda are on the NCF website and copies of the presentations will shortly be available there as well. See: www.nationalcareforum.org.uk

The most memorable presentation of the conference, and worthy of special mention, was undoubtedly that given by Caroline Tomlinson from "In Control".


Caroline shared the inspiring story of the journey she and her family have been on since 2003 when, in order to help achieve better support for her son with learning disability she created and pioneered the system now widely recognised as self directed support. This grass roots advocacy movement has now become a nationally recognised charity that is working to empower people with disabilities to take and maintain control over the way they lead their lives and manage their support. It is a powerful story of determination and passion achieving fundamental change in the social care system for the benefit of those in receipt of support services. For further details see www.in-control.org.uk.

Location:Tortworth Court Hotel, South Gloucestershire.