Our annual conference on 10th June 2025 was a tremendous success, attracting over 100 senior managers from care providers across the South-East, alongside representatives from partner organisations including the Care Association Alliance and our regional Care Associations.
Our second annual SESCA Conference took place on Tuesday 10th June 2025 at Sandown Park Racecourse and was once again a great success. Over 100 senior managers from care providers across the South-East attended, alongside representatives from partner agencies including the Care Association Alliance and our nine regional Care Associations.
The day opened with a keynote from Erica Lockhart MBE, SESCA Chair, who provided an update on SESCA’s evolution into a formal company structure, the progress of the DHSC-funded International Recruitment Project, and strategic priorities for the year ahead — including workforce development, data collection, and greater public affairs engagement.
The morning programme featured Sharon Ellis (My Home Life England) on professional development, Kashif Majeed (Aston Brooke Solicitors) with an immigration law update, Kat Tolfree (Frimley Health NHS Trust) on supporting international workers, and Rebecca McCollum (RWK Goodman) on employment legislation and cost pressures.
After lunch and exhibitor visits, the afternoon continued with Neil Eastwood (Care Friends) sharing UK-based recruitment strategies, followed by a joint session on AI in social care with Angie McNally (OACP) and Khaled Gamiet (Qwikify). The day concluded with Sultana Pasha (Manor Group Consulting), offering practical insights on staying compliant with CQC.
Delegates also had time to network and connect with exhibitors showcasing the latest tools and support services for the care sector.
Feedback from evaluation forms completed by attendees of the SESCA 2025 Annual Conference shows the event was overwhelmingly well received. The vast majority of participants rated the overall experience, quality of sessions and speakers, and venue and facilities as “excellent”.
Delegates described the day as “very informative and helpful to enhance our practice as an organisation”, and praised the calibre of speakers, with one attendee noting: “Every session was relevant and inspiring.” The chance to connect face-to-face was also highly valued: “It was great to see people in person — the speakers were outstanding and the event was so well organised.” Others appreciated the practical focus of the content, saying: “The information shared will really benefit our members” and “It’s clear that SESCA is listening to providers and responding to the real challenges we’re facing.”
Erica Lockhart MBE, SESCA Chair, commented:
“The evaluation responses speak for themselves — this was a truly successful event that brought together care providers, associations and partners from across the region. My sincere thanks to everyone who contributed, presented, exhibited and attended. Together, we are building a stronger care community in the South East.”
