On 25 September, the Mercure Daventry Court Hotel was filled with energy as case managers, clinicians, and professionals from across the UK gathered for Active Care Group’s first Case Management Conference.
This year’s theme, ‘Reimagining Case Management: Innovation for Impact,’ set the stage for a day packed with powerful stories, cutting-edge ideas, and a continued sense of purpose for everyone working in the field of complex care and rehabilitation.
And the exhibition hall was a hive of activity, with leading organisations such as BABICM, Brain Injury Group, Chroma, CMSUK, Day One Trauma Support, Design for Independence, Innova, IRCM, Proactive Prosthetics, and Smart Rehabilitation sharing resources, services, and opportunities for professional development.
Keith Browner, chief executive of Active Care Group, opened the conference, with the morning speakers including Sally Kimberley, managing director for care in the home/case management, who outlined the coming together of two impactful divisions withing Active Care Group and the collaborative future that lies ahead.
Day One Trauma Support later spoke, with client and advocate, Paul Price, sharing his deeply-personal account of surviving the Manchester Arena bombing.
Amit Chatterjee and Kirstie Corfield of Active Care Group then took delegates through ‘The Full Client Pathway,’ demonstrating how client-focused approaches are transforming neurorehabilitation and complex care.
They also shared the plans for Active Neuro, Active Care Group’s technology-enhanced rehabilitation service.
Throughout the day, the theme of empowerment echoed in every session.
Nicola Ewell of Tania Brown, one of Active Care Group’s case management companies, shared how she adapted her practice to help clients find their voice; while Jennifer Robinson and Ted Littlewood discussed how Active Care Group is redefining its proposition in a competitive market.
And Alan McDougall, clinical director at Proactive Prosthetics, showcased the latest advances in prosthetic rehabilitation, reminding attendees that technology and innovation are changing lives every day.
The afternoon brought a focus on new thinking for persistent challenges.
Dr Romy Sherlock and Andy Laird, co-directors of Retraining Pain, introduced practical, evidence-based approaches to pain rehabilitation, encouraging delegates to rethink how they support clients.
Dr Emma Cotterill’s session on the Empowerment Behavioural Management Approach (EBMA) offered a framework for supporting individuals with brain injuries and the systems around them, emphasising on collaboration.
The final presentation was from Eva Abley; accompanied by Emma Rush, partner at Irwin Mitchell; and Laura Seager, senior case manager at Brownbill Case Management Services.
Abley talked openly about her journey with Cerebral Palsy, with humour and light and humour and later sold copies of her book The Good, The Bad and The Wobbly.
A spokesman for Active Care Group said of the event: “Delegates left inspired and reminded of the profound difference that compassionate, innovative case management can make.”