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CCPS conference 2003

Community Care: The Art of the Possible

27-28 November 2003

Hilton Dunblane Hydro

Taking the views of service users as its cue, the third annual CCPS conference focused on what is - or what should be - possible for community care.
The programme featured a range of keynote speakers, including John McTernan, writer, commentator and now a policy adviser at No.10 Downing Street; Christine Grahame MSP, Convener of the Scottish Parliament Health Committee; Bill Kilgallon, Chief Executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE); Keir Hardie of the Highland Users Group; and Tom McCabe MSP, Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care.

The conference offered an opportunity to hear a variety of perspectives on the major issues facing community care agencies, interspersed with expert briefing sessions; small group discussions; good practice workshops; debates; and networking opportunities.

As in previous years, interactive conferencing technology was a key feature, enabling delegates to contribute to community care-oriented version of Radio 4's "Just a Minute", and a quick-fire debating session covering a range of topical issues.

Now an established event on the community care calendar, the CCPS conference 2003 attracted over 250 delegates. Their backgrounds ranged from the voluntary sector, local authorities, NHS boards, Trusts and LHCCS, to central government, universities, regulatory bodies and service user groups.

CCPS was particularly grateful for sponsorship from the Scottish Executive, Scottish Power, Standard Life and the exhibitors, enabling us to provide more than twenty free or reduced rate places to service users and carers.