Our operations manager Caron Sanders-Crook has been appointed as chair of the East of England Social Care Nurse Advisory Council (SCNAC).
Caron was previously chair of the Mid and South Essex (MSE) SCNAC until the recent restructuring of the regions. She will perform this important and responsible role in addition to her existing duties here at Canford Healthcare, where she oversees five of our homes in Essex, London and Kent.
Established in 2023 by Professor Deborah Sturdy, the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, a key aim for the SCNACs is to raise the profile of social care nursing and work with the NHS’ Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to ensure that this is firmly incorporated within health and care system discussions and planning. Members include professionals from the likes of health and social care, education, workforce development and research.
There were previously 42 SCNAC regions but recent reforms have seen these reduced to seven much larger regional councils. According to Professor Sturdy, this change “will ensure a stronger collaboration with other sector colleagues from workforce, research and higher education institutions (HEIs) and facilitate a greater number of voices to influence and shape work with NHSE ICB nurse colleagues and their teams.”
Caron’s much-enlarged region spans Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire and West Essex, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Mid and South Essex, Norfolk and Waveney, Suffolk and North East Essex. Together with co-chair Victoria Hulstrom, Clinical Director of Nouvita Healthcare, Chief Nurse Catherine Morgan and 19 other council members, Caron collaborates with local stakeholders, including ICB Chief Nurses, Skills for Care, the Royal College of Nursing and Dementia UK, to address key priorities in the region. For East of England, these are currently to attract and retain social care nurses and align with national medication sustainability goals, working to minimise the environmental impact of medicines.
Caron, who is a Queen’s Nurse and recipient of the Chief Nursing Officer for Adult Social Care Gold Award, brings over 37 years’ experience of health and social care to the role. Despite financial pressures and central government cost-cutting, she remains optimistic about the future of social care nursing. She sees the SCNACs as a platform to drive meaningful change and raise the profile of the profession.
She says: “This is an incredible opportunity for health and care professionals to collaborate, share expertise and elevate social care nursing, utilising the overlooked talent in the sector. By working together, the SCNACs can create a more integrated, sustainable and effective healthcare system that benefits everyone. After all, we look after the same people.”
Contact us 