2026 programme
The 2026 programme is here, bringing a forward-looking agenda and fresh thinking.
Get ready for sector-wide conversations on the most pressing topics, from sustainable business models and innovations in
dementia care to financial challenges and emerging opportunities. The programme is subject to change.
Thursday 11th June 2026
Event Agenda
Dementia Care Stage
08:30 – 09:30
Registration, Networking and Exhibition
09:30 – 09:35
Welcome
09:35 – 10:45
Keynote Address
10:45 – 11:30
Morning Coffee Break and Exhibition
11:30 – 11:35
Welcome and Opening Remarks from the Chair
11:35 – 12:25
Dementia Care Innovation to Bring Meaningful Change to the Sector
This interactive session is your chance to provide insight and expertise into the latest solutions that will shape the future of dementia care. New ideas and action points will be offered for you to discuss at your tables and to take back to your practice.
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- What are the latest technology empowered innovations helping individuals living with dementia?
- What role does research play in ensuring innovation empowers those people who give and receive dementia care?
- How can the voice of those with dementia be embedded in implementing dementia care innovation?
- Dr Ella Moonan-Howard, Senior Innovator, Alzheimer’s Society
12:25 – 12:45
Update from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dementia Care
12:45 – 13:45
Networking lunch
13:45 – 14:35
Leveraging AI to Predict and Enhance Dementia Care
- How will AI and Machine Learning (ML) transform care to improve efficiency, personalise care and enhance outcomes for people living with dementia?
- What practical uses of AI or ML have improved service delivery?
- How can technology be used to anticipate residents’ needs and personalise care plans effectively?
- What are the main challenges in implementing AI solutions in dementia and how can they be overcome?
- How can staff be supported to work alongside AI tools to enhance rather than replace human care?
14:35 – 15:00
Psychiatric Disorders and Dementia Risk: What Care Homes Can Do
New research reveals that individuals living with multiple psychiatric conditions—such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, or substance misuse—face dramatically higher risks of developing dementia.
- How can clinicians integrate mental health assessments into dementia risk screening?
- What early intervention strategies can reduce dementia risk in individuals with multiple psychiatric disorders?
- How can combinations of mood and anxiety disorders be addressed to prevent or delay cognitive decline?
- What role can emerging diagnostic tools, such as blood markers, play in identifying high-risk patients?
- How can healthcare systems ensure coordinated care for people with psychiatric comorbidities to improve long-term brain health outcomes?
15:00 – 15:40
Afternoon Tea Break and Exhibition
15:40 – 16:15
Tackling Healthcare Inequalities in Dementia Care: The GRACE Initiative
- How can the design of dementia care services reduce healthcare inequalities across the UK effectively?
- What strategies ensure early and accurate diagnosis while improving access to specialist dementia care?
- How can programmes like GRACE deliver personalised, evidence-based support directly to individuals and their carers?
- What practical lessons from the NIDUS-Family programme can be scaled to support more people living with dementia and their families?
- How can dementia carers be empowered with tools, guidance, and community resources to improve patient and family outcomes?
16:15 – 16:45
Navigating CQC Excellence: Turning Regulation into Quality Improvement
- How can providers turn CQC compliance from a challenge into an opportunity for continuous improvement?
- What practical steps can help services move from “Good” to “Outstanding” under the new assessment framework?
- How can leaders build a culture of accountability and readiness for inspection at every level of their organisation?
- What upcoming CQC or regulatory changes will have the biggest impact on your service, and how can you prepare?
Future of Care Stage
08:30 – 09:30
Registration, Networking and Exhibition
09:30 – 09:35
Welcome
09:35 – 10:45
Keynote Address
10:45 – 11:30
Morning Coffee Break and Exhibition
11:30 – 11:35
Welcome and Opening Remarks from the Chair
- Nadra Ahmed CBE, Executive Co-Chairman, National Care Association
11:35 – 12:15
Financial Resilience for Care Home Groups in Changing Times
- How can care home groups access diverse funding sources when lenders are more risk-averse?
- What financial structures protect against market and interest rate volatility?
- How should care home owners balance investment in quality care with the pressure on operating margins?
- What practical steps can smaller to mid-sized care groups take to remain attractive to investors and lenders?
- How can care home operators build financial resilience to weather economic shocks while maintaining strong CQC ratings?
- Samantha Crawley, CEO, EQ Care
- Amrit Dhaliwal, CEO and Founder, Walfinch
- Sam Mongahan, CEO, Methodist Homes MHA
- Chaired by Angela Boxall, Chief Executive, Majesticare and Chair, Care England
12:15 – 12:45
Learning from Leading Care Technology Markets: Opportunities for the Future
- What can the domestic market learn from overseas markets that are ahead in care technology adoption?
- How do key market differences shape technology implementation and resident outcomes?
- What common challenges do providers face when integrating new care technologies?
- Where are the biggest opportunities for care technology to improve operations and quality of care?
12:45 – 13:45
Networking Lunch
13:45 – 14:35
Bringing Together Social Care Innovators to Shape the Future
Research, Data & Innovation as Drivers of Meaningful Improvement Across Adult Social Care
This interactive session is your chance to provide insight and expertise into the latest solutions that will shape the future of the sector. New ideas and action points will be offered for you to discuss at your tables and to take back to your practice.
- How can care homes make decisions that are guided by evidence and real experience and will lead to safer, more personalized outcomes?
- What role do think tanks play supporting improvement in adult social care – how do they collaborate with providers to influence policy?
- What approach to learning from other countries is most effective?
- How can research, data and innovation can provide evidence base to target care more effectively? How can partnerships between academic, clinical and regulatory bodies strengthen care that makes a real difference to residents, staff and families?
- Which innovations can realistically reduce agency spend, improve staff productivity and lower operational risk?
- Innovative funding models—what’s working in practice and what’s next for building a National Care Service?
14:35 – 15:00
Quality of Care as a Marketing Tool
- What makes a care home a place where people want to stay longer?
- What role does quality of care play in converting enquiries into occupancy?
- What are the practical strategies that can be employed to utilise marketing the quality of care offered?
- How can marketing efforts be supported to lead to better outcomes for residents, sustainability and higher turnover?
15:00 – 15:40
Afternoon Tea Break and Exhibition
15:40 – 16:10
Building Teams for Tomorrow’s Care Homes
- How can care homes attract and retain finance talent in a competitive labour market?
- What skills and capabilities will teams need to navigate future regulatory and funding pressures?
- How can technology and process improvements free up finance teams to focus on strategic decision-making?
- What practical steps can smaller homes take to build financial resilience without large-scale resources?
16:15 – 16:45
Navigating CQC Excellence: Turning Regulation into Quality Improvement
- How can providers turn CQC compliance from a challenge into an opportunity for continuous improvement?
- What practical steps can help services move from “Good” to “Outstanding” under the new assessment framework?
- How can leaders build a culture of accountability and readiness for inspection at every level of their organisation?
- What upcoming CQC or regulatory changes will have the biggest impact on your service, and how can you prepare?
Healthcare Design & Build Stage
08:30 – 09:30
Registration, Networking and Exhibition
09:30 – 09:35
Welcome
09:35 – 10:45
Keynote Address
10:45 – 11:30
Morning Coffee Break and Exhibition
11:30 – 11:35
Welcome and Opening Remarks from the Chair
- Jon Chapman, Head of Care, Pinders
11:35 – 12:15
Designing Care Homes for Dignity, Sustainability and Efficiency
- How can care home design go beyond compliance to truly enhance residents’ dignity, independence, and quality of life?
- What practical approaches support dementia-friendly environments while meeting regulatory and safety standards?
- How can facilities integrate sustainability and future-proofing (e.g., energy efficiency, adaptable rooms, smart technology) without compromising comfort or accessibility?
- What strategies can ensure staff and operational needs are incorporated into design, supporting efficiency and wellbeing alongside resident care?
12:15 – 12:45
Designing Settings That Support Residents, Families and Staff
- How can care settings be designed to simultaneously meet the needs of residents, families, and staff and deliver high-quality care?
- What features and design principles improve safety, comfort, and wellbeing for all users?
- How can technology and smart systems be integrated to support staff efficiency while enhancing resident care?
- What strategies encourage family involvement and positive interactions within care environments?
12:45 – 13:45
Networking lunch
13:45 – 14:35
Refurbish or Rebuild? Making the Right Choice for Care Home Owners
- What factors impact whether a care home building is suitable for refurbishment or requires a new build?
- What modern features and technologies can be incorporated through refurbishment to improve safety, accessibility, and resident wellbeing?
- How should short-term costs against long-term value be balanced when deciding between refurbishment and new construction?
- What strategies can minimise disruption and protect resident welfare during renovation or new build projects?
14:35 – 15:00
Specialized Care Home Design: Creating Environments for Exceptional Care
15:00 – 15:40
Afternoon Coffee Break and Exhibition
15:40 – 16:15
Sustainable Care: Practical Strategies for Minimising Environmental Impact in Adult Social Care Operations
- What practical steps can care providers take to reduce energy consumption and optimise resource use in their facilities?
- How can recycling, waste reduction, and digital communication initiatives be implemented effectively in care settings?
- What strategies encourage staff to adopt sustainable behaviours, including eco-friendly commuting and hybrid working models?
- How can sustainability initiatives be aligned with operational efficiency, cost reduction, and quality of care for residents?
- What role does spatial planning play in promoting eco-friendly behaviours?
- What innovative digital can be embedded in the design to minimise waste and reduce environmental impact?
16:15 – 16:45
Navigating CQC Excellence: Turning Regulation into Quality Improvement
- How can providers turn CQC compliance from a challenge into an opportunity for continuous improvement?
- What practical steps can help services move from “Good” to “Outstanding” under the new assessment framework?
- How can leaders build a culture of accountability and readiness for inspection at every level of their organisation?
- What upcoming CQC or regulatory changes will have the biggest impact on your service, and how can you prepare?