Social care on the agenda at Scarborough exhibition

A RALLYING call for the future of social care in Scarborough and North Yorkshire is how a major conference in the region has been hailed.

Around 200 social care providers are expected at the conference organised by the Independent Care Group on April 24.

The conference and exhibition will be held at Yorkshire Air Museum and has been given the title “Keep Calm and Carry On!”

Mike Padgham, the chairman of the Independent Care Group, based in Scarborough, said the conference would lift spirits and prepare local social care providers for challenging but exciting times ahead.

“We have chosen as our venue the former World War II RAF Bomber Command Station at Elvington, an inspiring and inspirational venue which we hope will fill our delegates with some fighting spirit for the endeavours to come,” he said.

“Social care has taken a battering in recent years, with funding being cut, providers struggling and its outstanding reputation dented. Our conference will be a springboard to begin a counter-offensive.”

He said the conference would “tackle head on the issues that are impacting on the sector today and in the weeks and months to come”.

The conference will feature keynote speakers from the Department of Health, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, local authorities and other bodies, an exhibition and a series of workshops.