A new national opportunity is inviting health, care and community partners to work together to improve cancer care for people across the UK. Macmillan Cancer Support, in partnership with Q, hosted by the NHS Alliance, has launched the Macmillan Q Lab, an innovation programme focused on one important question: “How might we reimagine holistic cancer care closer to people’s homes?” Over a nine-month period, participants will take part in workshops, peer learning, coaching and a structured design process to develop innovative solutions that could make cancer care more accessible, equitable and community-focused. Teams will also have access to expertise from Macmillan and Q, alongside funding support of up to £75,000 […]
Monday 2 November, 9am until 4pm – The Catalyst, Newcastle Helix. Join leading researchers, policymakers, practitioners and experts-by-experience from across the region for a powerful one-day conference exploring some of the most pressing challenges facing women, families and marginalised communities. This unique practice improvement event will bring together national speakers with regional leaders in research, public health, social care and community organisations to examine how stigma, trauma and disadvantage shape people’s lives – and what we can do differently to improve outcomes. This event is jointly hosted by: Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health; NIHR School for Public Health Research; Office for Health Improvement and Disparities; Newcastle […]
Colleagues across the North East and North Cumbria are invited to take part in an important research project exploring the use of touch in deafblind practice. Led by Birmingham City University, the study ‘Navigating touch in deafblind practice: From complexity to professional guidance’ aims to bring together professional insight and lived experience to co‑create clear, practical guidance for those working with people who are deafblind. Shaping future guidance through collaboration The research will engage professionals through a series of activities, including focus groups and a collaborative ‘World Café’ event. These sessions will explore current perspectives and experiences of using touch in practice, before bringing together practitioners and academics to […]
Skills for Care is proud to share a range of dementia resources designed to support people living with dementia and those who care for them. Developed for the adult social care workforce – including home care workers, care home staff, community teams, and family carers – these brand-new resources make dementia information accessible, person-centred, and practical. With the right skills and knowledge, we can ensure a good quality of life at every stage of dementia, helping individuals remain active and engaged for as long as possible. The resources cover: Prevention Before and after diagnosis Support Family carers End-of-life care Explore the resources…
As part of the ongoing work of the Digital Accelerators for Social Care Steering Group, Health Innovation NENC (HI NENC) and partners have organised a series of four practical webinars designed to support digital adoption in care homes, for care providers, and for health partners. These sessions will share real‑world insights on improving communication, streamlining processes, and enhancing resident care through lived experience and practical digital solutions. Upcoming webinars Wednesday 18 March 2026, 10:30–11:15am – GP Connect. An accessible introduction to GP Connect and how it enables safe, efficient information‑sharing between care settings to support continuity of care. Register here… Wednesday 25 March 2026, 10:30–11:15am – Cyber Security. A […]
A new national study has found that Community Led Support (CLS) is helping councils deliver more person‑centred, proactive adult social care. Developed by the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTI), CLS focuses on people’s strengths, connections and community support rather than just their care needs. Researchers analysed data from 149 councils and found that CLS resulted in 10% fewer people needing publicly funded care, more planned care reviews and no increase in overall costs – despite improved quality. While outcomes varied across regions, the findings strongly support expanding strengths‑based approaches. The study was led by NIHR Applied Research Collaborations across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, South London and the West Midlands, […]
Healthcare professionals across the North East and North Cumbria know the difference the Great North Care Record makes every day. Now, research from Newcastle University confirms what many already suspected: this digital innovation is saving the NHS around £18 million every year. What is the Great North Care Record? The Great North Care Record is an integrated care record for 3.2 million people in our region. It brings together vital patient information such as: Clinical correspondence Alerts and allergies Pathology results By providing instant access to a patient’s medical history, it helps clinicians make faster, safer decisions and improves continuity of care. The impact in numbers Over 1 […]
Health and care partners across the North East and North Cumbria are invited to apply for the first wave of the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) – a new national initiative designed to transform how care is delivered in our communities. This is a fantastic opportunity to build on the great work already happening in our region and help shape more joined-up, preventative, and person-centred care at neighbourhood level. What’s the programme about? The NNHIP supports local areas – known as ‘Places’ – to develop neighbourhood health systems that focus on people with multiple long-term conditions and rising health risks. It’s about shifting care closer to home, reducing […]
Providing compassionate and person-centred care at the end of life is a vital part of our work here in the North East and North Cumbria – but it can also be one of the most challenging. For colleagues working in social care and learning disabilities services, supporting someone who is receiving palliative care or approaching the end of their life can raise questions about confidence, communication, and how best to ensure a ‘good death’ for the people we support. To help better understand how confident staff feel in this area – and to identify where further advice, training or support might be helpful – the North Cumbria End of Life […]
Brought to you by Boost in collaboration with North Cumbria Knowledge and Library Service, this LUNCH & LEARN session on 28 March 2025 saw Melissa Sherring (Workforce Development Manager in PBS, North East and North Cumbria ICB) deliver a presentation on ‘Workforce development approach to Positive Behavioural Support (PBS)’. Our LUNCH & LEARNs are short, informal events that take place at lunchtime – while you take a break and eat, you can listen to our invited speaker as they give a short talk sharing information about their work, as well as their experience of improvement. This presentation described the workforce development approach to PBS that has been developed in the […]
