Care England 2026 conference summary

The day began with spirited renditions of Born This Way, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), and Stand by Me performed by the Baked Bean Choir. The choir forms a part of the programme of the Baked Bean charity, which was founded in south-west London to provide access to arts projects for people with learning disabilities, helping to build confidence, promote social inclusion, and support meaningful participation in the community. 

As Angela Boxall reflected later in the day, the choir set a powerful tone for a conference centered firmly on people and care. The focus, she noted, was on keeping people at the heart of everything across adult social care. Her quote of the day neatly captured this sentiment: “Social care isn’t about men in suits, it’s about people who sing in choirs.”

Professor Martin Green’s introductory remarks reinforced this message, underlining both the vital importance of the sector’s work and the need for providers to come together in a more collaborative and unified way. With significant challenges looming, he stressed that collective action and shared purpose will be essential to navigating what lies ahead.

This theme was echoed by Chris Badger from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), who spoke candidly about the future of the CQC and its role in social care. He emphasised that good care is underpinned by safety and personalisation, and that regulators must be clear, consistent, and straightforward in how these priorities are assessed. He outlined his vision for a “collaborative regulator” that works closely with the sector and individual providers to actively support improvements in care.

Nuno Santos Lopes of Nightingale Hammerson then highlighted the importance of a forward-looking and collaborative approach from providers, with innovation and research as key drivers of positive outcomes. He spoke about his organisation’s work embedding research into practice and sharing findings more widely across the sector. Crucially, he emphasised that all providers can benefit from research and innovation, even those without the capacity to pilot new projects themselves.
The morning’s programme also included contributions from Charles Coleman Manktelow of the Department of Health and Social Care, who discussed the development of the Fair Pay Agreement and its place within the wider policy landscape, including the Employment Rights Act. He outlined the inclusive approach taken to engage the sector in shaping the agreement and the ambition to establish a negotiating body capable of improving pay and conditions for the social care workforce.

Samantha Crawley of EQ Care Group and the Outstanding Society brought the conversation back to people, specifically, the people who choose to work in care and how they shape the services delivered. As she put it, “carers shape the worlds of those who run care services, and they shape the worlds of those who receive care.” She emphasised the importance of leadership and culture in reframing care homes not as places of last resort, but as environments where people can feel fortunate, happy, and fulfilled.

The first part of the day concluded with a Working Age Adult Policy Board panel chaired by Fraser Rickatson of Care England, featuring Tim Davies of iVolve Care, Peter Kinsey of Iris Care, Holly Spiers from Walsingham Support, and Rebekah Cresswell from Priory. The panel discussed the particular challenges facing providers of working-age adult services, the progress made by the board over the past year, and priorities for the year ahead. They also reflected on how this often-overlooked area of social care continues to motivate the board’s work, particularly when witnessing the lifechanging outcomes that result from truly person-centred support.

The afternoon programme shifted towards practical takeaways, with a series of workshops and panel discussions focused on innovative solutions and ideas for providers. Sessions were delivered by Engage Care, Weightmans, Mediahawk, Anthony Collins, Sensio, Sona, Everywhen, Citation, Hempsons, CareHomeLife, Skills for Care, and the NIHR, offering attendees a wide range of perspectives and tools to take back to their organisations.

The conference was a timely reminder of the values that unite the adult social care sector: collaboration, compassion, and an unwavering focus on people. It reinforced that meaningful progress depends on standing together to deliver further improvements for those who provide care and those who receive it. While policy, regulation, and innovation are all central to social care today and to how we improve it tomorrow, music, lived experience, and joy are just as essential in shaping and framing a sector that truly puts people first.