Future-Proofing Your Health & Social Care Business

Date & Time: 22nd October 2025 | 11:00AM - 12:30PM 

This opening session sets the scene for the programme, exploring the strategic direction of health and social care at both national and local levels. You’ll hear about key reforms, local priorities, the pressures facing providers, and begin shaping your own goals for the months ahead. 

Key themes:

• National policy updates: Adult Social Care Reform, NHS 10-Year Plan, Employment Rights Bill, Immigration White Paper, and Get Britain Working

• The current landscape in Stockport, and its key priorities:

• “Home First”, Better Care Fund allocation, and integrated care systems

• Sector challenges: workforce shortages, funding pressures, regulatory changes, and digital transformation

• Opportunities for providers: innovation, diversification, and partnership working

What you’ll gain:

• A clear understanding of the sector’s strategic direction

• Insight into how national and local policy changes affect your service

• A personal or organisational goal to guide your journey through the programme

• Connections with peers facing similar challenges

Interactive elements:

• Live poll: What’s your biggest challenge right now?

• Visioning exercise: Where do you want your service to be in 12 months?

Deliverers

Kimberley Hollins
Head of Service – Commissioning & Infrastructure, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

Kimberley Hollins is a transformational leader in adult social care, currently serving as Head of Service for Commissioning & Infrastructure at Stockport Council. With a strategic remit spanning commissioning, market shaping, and infrastructure development, Kimberley leads on service innovation and quality assurance across a diverse portfolio, including care homes, supported living, day services, and community-based support.

Her leadership is grounded in values-led practice, systems thinking, and collaborative partnership working. She works closely with commissioners, public health, and integrated care partners to ensure provision is equitable, high-quality, and delivers value for money. Kimberley is known for her ability to navigate complex procurement landscapes.

She is a key contributor to Greater Manchester’s strategic commissioning agenda, including the GM Integrated Framework: Supporting People to Live Well at Home.

Kimberley is passionate about co-production, ethical commissioning, and enabling people to live gloriously ordinary lives. She is based at Stopford House in Stockport and works across the borough and region to shape the future of adult social care.

Emma Battersby 

Contracts & Commissioning Manager, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

Emma Battersby is a Contracts and Commissioning Manager within Adult Social Care at Stockport Council. With over 10 years’ experience working across Commissioning and Infrastructure teams to support service delivery, Emma’s current portfolio includes care home provision for older people, Discharge to Assess, and strategic workforce shaping for the provider market.

Previously working in the emergency services as a front-line police officer, Emma’s passion and drive to make a positive difference for people—and her continued vocation to public service—led her to a career within adult social care.

Emma is committed to delivering opportunities, transformation, and innovation in adult social care through collaboration and the sharing of best practice, raising the profile of health and social care in Stockport, and positioning the borough as a leader in this area.

Jon Wilkie

Register Your Place Here

Date & Time: Wednesday 12th November | 11:00AM - 12:30PM

Staffing is one of the biggest challenges in health and social care. This session focuses on building a stable, ethical, and compliant workforce, from international recruitment and sponsorship licensing to supporting displaced workers and accessing local talent.

Key themes:

• The impact of workforce shortages and displacement

• Ethical international recruitment: best practice and common pitfalls

• Navigating the Health and Care Worker visa route

• Sponsorship licence management: compliance, audits, and responsibilities

• Support pathways for displaced workers, with input from NHS Professionals

• Real-world insights from a Stockport provider on recruiting displaced care workers

What you’ll gain:

• A workforce action plan addressing recruitment, retention, and compliance

• Clear understanding of sponsorship readiness and legal responsibilities

• Practical advice from legal experts and sector partners

Interactive elements:

• Checklist: Are you sponsor-ready?

• Poll: How confident are you with sponsorship licences?

Register Your Place Here

Date & Time: Wednesday 3rd December 2025 | 11:00AM - 12:30PM

This session helps you become commercially confident and competitive, whether you’re bidding for public contracts or growing your private client base. Learn how to write stronger bids, reduce reliance on public funding, and build a more resilient business model.

Key themes:

• Understanding public sector procurement: local authority and NHS commissioning, frameworks, DPS, and open tenders

• Bid writing and commercial readiness: compliance, quality, pricing, and social value

• Building a private client base: market trends, pricing, marketing, and referrals

• Reducing Reliance on Public Contracts: diversifying income, managing risk and cash flow, and blended models

• Embedding sustainability and social values, including a session on the Good Employment Charter

What you’ll gain:

• Improved commercial readiness for public tenders

• An action plan to grow your private client base

• Strategies to reduce dependency on public contracts

Interactive elements:

• Bid readiness checklist

• Private client persona exercise: Who are your ideal clients and how do you reach them?

• Peer discussion: What’s working in your area?

Register Your Place Here

Date & Time: Wednesday 07th January 2026 | 11:00AM - 12:30PM

Digital tools and AI are transforming care delivery. This session explores how providers can adopt technology to improve quality, compliance, and efficiency, while supporting staff and service users through the transition.

Key themes:

• Overview and implementing digital care systems (e.g. PASS, Nourish, CarePlanner)

• Using digital records for quality assurance and CQC inspections

• GDPR compliance and cybersecurity

• Supporting staff with digital skills and confidence

• Introduction to AI in care: scheduling, predictive analytics, admin automation, and more

• Ethical considerations and workforce engagement

• Building a digital transformation roadmap

What you’ll gain:

• Increased confidence in digital and AI adoption

• A digital transformation roadmap tailored to your organisation

Interactive elements:

• Digital readiness self-assessment (including AI)

• Poll: What’s one digital or AI tool you’d like to explore?

• Case study: Digital Care Hub

Register Your Place Here

Date & Time: Wednesday 28th January 2026 | 11:00AM - 12:30PM 

This follow-up session focuses on long-term workforce development. From creating a culture of wellbeing and inclusion to developing the skills your team needs for the future, this session supports providers in planning for sustainable staffing and leadership.

Key themes:

• Creating a culture of wellbeing, inclusion, and retention

• Essential skills development for care staff

• Case study from a local provider

• Overview of workforce programmes available to providers

• Developing a long-term workforce strategy

• Introduction to the Health & Social Care Academy for Stockport

What you’ll gain:

• A refreshed workforce action plan

• Insight into local workforce development opportunities

• Practical steps to build a resilient, future-ready team

Interactive elements:

• Checklist: Have you got the right people with the right skills?

• Action planning: What are your next steps for workforce development?

Register Your Place Here

Date & Time: Wednesday 18th February 2026 | 11:00AM - 12:30PM 

This final session looks ahead to the future of care in Greater Manchester. Explore new models of care, integrated working, and innovation, and celebrate the progress made by the cohort.

Key themes:

• Stockport’s changing population and demographics

• The “Live Well” neighbourhood and prevention approach

• Stockport’s Adult Social Care Commissioning Strategy

• Building partnerships across the NHS, local authorities, and voluntary sector

• Innovation in care delivery: micro-providers, co-operatives, tech-enabled care

• Strategic planning for future growth and resilience

• Leadership for transformation and succession planning

• Cohort showcase: key takeaways, changes implemented, and peer feedback

What you’ll gain:

• A clearer understanding of future care models and system collaboration

• Strategic insight into Stockport’s vision and commissioning priorities

• A chance to reflect on your progress and share learning with peers

Interactive elements:

• Action planning: What will you implement in the next 6–12 months?

• Poll: How confident do you feel about your future?

Register Your Place Here