Care providers will learn how harnessing the power of robotics and new technology can open up a brave new world for them when they gather for a major conference.
The Independent Care Group will host its annual conference and exhibition in Harrogate on 21 November and organisers are urging care providers to sign up now to attend.
The theme for the conference, to be held at the Pavilions of Harrogate, will be Innovation in Social Care. It will focus on the very latest advancements, in particular how new technology, including robotics, will aid the delivery of care, alongside the latest developments in hydration and nutrition, surroundings and wellbeing, health and safety, and person-centred software.
Group chair, Mike Padgham says: “This is a very challenging but exciting period for social care at the moment with new technology opening up huge opportunities and changes in the way we care for older and vulnerable adults.
“By using technology, in particular robotics, we will be able to remove some of the routine, repetitive tasks and free up staff to do what they do best, interact with, stimulate and care for our older residents.
“The opportunities are exciting and we are really looking forward to the conference and to learning how we can all improve the future.”
Organisers have lined up some key speakers for the event, including former Care Services Minister Paul Burstow, now chair of SCIE.
Burstow will be joined by Dr Ben Maruthappu, a British physician, academic researcher, health policy specialist and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of Cera, a tech-enabled homecare company and also co-founded the NHS Innovation Accelerator, a program to progress the adoption of new healthcare treatments and technologies.
Another key speaker will be Dr Sanjeev Kanoria, CEO of Advinia Healthcare, a growing care home operator. The company has 38 homes, putting it into the top 10 private care providers in the UK. The group has won several awards for innovation and quality care. Advinia is at the forefront of using technology in care and recently they launched culturally sensitive robots to help dementia residents.
BBC television personality Harry Gration will chair the conference and The Guardian’s social affairs editor David Brindle and the BBC’s social affairs editor Alison Holt will also be among the speakers.
The Independent Care Group is currently singing up exhibitors for the accompanying exhibition as well as taking bookings from delegates.
Padgham continues: “The response to previous conferences has been phenomenal and given the state of the sector at the moment, I am sure take up of places will be very strong, so I would urge anyone interested in coming to book their places straight away.”
“We are facing a difficult and uncertain future and our conference will be an opportunity to gather and see how we go forward. By that time we might have a green paper setting out how the Government proposes to deal with the future funding of social care and that is likely to feature prominently on our agenda,” he adds.
To find out more about the conference go to: www.independentcaregroup.co.uk/conference.php
