A New Chapter

The Social Care Association has been holding its Annual Seminar in Blackpool again. As usual, it has been a warm and convivial event, and newcomers have said how useful they found the sessions.

It is a time of major change for the SCA. They have been reviewing their systems and structures for the last couple of years. They now have not only a President – Daphne Statham this year – who can act as the Association’s figurehead and ambassador, but also a Chair of the Executive Council, Jennifer Bernard,. She will remain in post for some time and oversee the Association’s business. This is an excellent idea, as the continuity of the Association’s policy-making has rested excessively with its Chief Executive until now, with Presidents coming and going annually.

With a touch of ironic good timing, Dick Clough is giving up as Chief Executive after 26 years, and this was his last Annual Seminar in charge. He is hoping to continue to maintain contact by undertaking consultancy for the SCA, and his role will be filled on an acting basis by Nick Johnson, the Assistant Chief Executive, while the role is reconsidered.

The SCA is not a large organisation, and there were fewer delegates than ever at this year’s seminar. However it does have a core of committed members, and with the likes of Daphne, Jennifer and Nick at the helm, it could evolve into a different type of organisation - one with the potential to have a real impact in the field of social care.

When Dick Clough took charge 26 years ago, much of the work was ground-breaking, and Dick personally has had quite an impact in the years since, using his position to speak for the service. It was the first to campaign for a social care General Council, for example.

Now, though, the ground is well turned over and there are bodies such as the CSCI, SCIE and TOPSS doing the development work. SCA’s role could be to switch from preparing material and drawing up new policies to monitoring the national bodies, checking for gaps and inconsistencies in their work, and identifying trends and the unintended consequences of new policies and systems. We shall watch the Association’s progress with interest.