AGM and Briefing at Hartlepower

Very positive feedback from this event. Such appreciation shown for the late Ruby Marshall MBE and pleasure at the announcement of  NESCHA sponsorship of the Social Work Prize at Teesside University f or the next 5 years. There were updates on our projects and some very interesting debates and emerging issues. It was clearly demonstrated, as so often in our events, that in different parts of the region, health and social care can be practiced differently , which may be no bad thing in itself, but when one area can such good practice, another area can do so poorly in comparison despite similar resources. If you sign up to our newsletter we’ll send you a pen and a small torch – with the words ‘Shining a light on good practice’ which is what we intend to keep doing.

We are increasingly supporting research but also initiating our own and learning in the process. We have also learned more about using Freepost ( we are registered with Royal Mail) cards to gain feedback from the hard to reach and more.

Latest news

• Something about Mary – reflections on social care for BBC Radio

  Date: 4th August 2026
  

  Interviewed by Matt Bailey at 7.10am on 29th July about NESCHA views on imminent Andy Burnham announcement later that morning. I was greatly encouraged by his feedback ( he said it was interesting and ran over time!) and wrote the paper attached.

• Living the System: A Personal Reflection on Care, Compassion and Change

  Date: 26th April 2026
  

  I never dreamt that one day I would be living the system!.
  Sadly Robert my co-author , died when I was in hospital some years ago but my wife visited daily and then she lived with a diagnosois mixed dementia for over four years, was admitted to hospital last October and, following a rapid discharge to a care home, died peacefully in December .

  Despite a professional background in social work and years spent working on improving health and care systems, nothing fully prepares you for living that experience. It brought into sharp focus both the compassion of frontline staff and the frustrations families can face when services are not as joined-up or consistent as they should be.

• NESCHA Board member Julia Wood De-Frazzle your NHS job

  Date:
  

  NHS de-frazzle new book and brilliant review