VODG | Joint Operations Directors' and Quality and Safeguarding Professional Network Meeting | July 2026

This network brings together sector leaders to explore the key challenges shaping disability services, with a focus on regulation, financial sustainability, workforce resilience and future policy change.

The day begins by examining the evolving CQC inspection landscape, offering practical insight into how inspections are conducted, where subjectivity arises, and how providers can prepare and confidently challenge outcomes. A facilitated discussion will draw out real-world provider experiences.

Attention then turns to financial and commissioning pressures, exploring rising operational costs and the impact of commissioning decisions on sustainability, quality and risk, alongside opportunities for stronger alignment between providers and commissioners.

In the afternoon, parallel sessions on workforce, leadership and culture will provide space for peer discussion on organisational resilience, safeguarding, and inclusive practice, with key insights shared across the group.

The programme concludes with a forward-looking session on innovation and inclusion, focusing on the upcoming Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag and its implications for providers.

Throughout, the emphasis is on practical learning, shared experience and supporting providers to navigate a rapidly changing environment.

Confirmed Speakers

Programme

10.00 - 10.05	Start	Welcome from VODG Housekeeping and practicalities	Kerry Hamilton, VODG Director of Membership and Operations
10.05 - 10.15	Intro	Aims for the day Overview of agenda and structure	Co-chair
10:15 – 11:15	Session 1: The Shifting Regulatory Landscape (60 mins)	10:15 – 10:40 \| Setting the scene – inspection reality: insight, judgement and learning How CQC inspections are currently being conducted in practice The move towards observation-led inspections and what this means Where subjectivity tends to creep in Influence of culture, leadership visibility and consistency Common pitfalls across providers Practical preparation without increasing bureaucracy	Scott McMurray, Director, Delphi Care
		10:40 – 11:00 \| When outcomes don’t feel right – challenge and protection When to challenge an inspection outcome The CQC complaints and review process (what it is and isn’t) Managing perceived risks of challenging the regulator What good evidence looks like when disputing findings Common provider mistakes when escalating concerns	Trowers & Hamlins
		11:00 – 11:15 \| Facilitated discussion – provider experience Joint discussion & provider reflection Single umbrella question explored at all tables: Short table reflections captured by facilitators	Co-chairs
11.15 - 11.25	Break (10 mins)
11:25 - 12:30	Session 2: Finance, Commissioning & Sustainability Pressures (65 mins)	11:25 – 11:45 \| Cost pressures on the ground: energy, fuel and operational sustainability Cost pressures on the ground: energy, fuel and operational sustainability Current and emerging energy and fuel cost trends Disproportionate impact on rural, dispersed and community services Interaction with commissioning rates and margins Practical mitigation and support available What commissioners often underestimate about cost base Includes short Q&A	Utility Aid
		11:45 – 12:10 \| Commissioning under financial pressure How local authorities are responding to financial pressure Impact of commissioning models on sustainability and risk Evidence vs reality on efficiency and shared support Unintended consequences on quality, safeguarding and outcomes Where provider reality and commissioner assumptions diverge What better commissioning looks like	Joshua Butt, Principal Consultant, Cordis Bright
		12:10 – 12:30 \| Open discussion and Q&A Whole-room discussion (not breakouts) Focus on: Where commissioning creates operational risk Least understood cost pressures Experiences of provider pushback and challenge What evidence commissioners need to hear	Cordis Bright and Co-chairs
12:30 - 13:15	Lunch (45 minutes)
13:15 – 14:15	Session 3: Workforce, Leadership & Organisational Culture	13:15 – 14:00 \| Parallel Breakouts: Ops Directors Breakout Focus Organisational culture and Registered Manager resilience Workforce pressures and Disability Confident employment Leadership responses to maintaining financial sustainability Approach: Facilitated table discussions Capture key themes and emerging priorities Identify topics for future deep-dive sessions	Ops Director Co-chairs
		13:15 – 14:00 \| Parallel Breakouts: Quality & Safeguarding Breakout Focus Culture as a safeguarding control Lessons learned: systems, tools and embedding practice Champions models (dignity, oral health, etc.) Approach: Facilitated table discussions Capture key themes and emerging priorities Identify topics for future deep-dive sessions	Q&S Co-chairs
		14:00 – 14:10 \| Rapid feedback 1–2 key insights per group “Hot topics” surfaced to the wider room	Co-chairs
14:10 - 14:20	Break (10 mins)
14:20 – 14:50	Session 4: Innovation, Inclusion & the Future of Care	14:20 – 14:50 \| Plenary session Overview of the Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag requirement (Sept 2026) What providers are expected to do Key implementation challenges (access to NHS spine, data/security requirements) Practical considerations for services Early learning / emerging approaches Discussion: What this means operationally and for quality Risks, feasibility and support needs	Speakers TBC (policy + system experts)
14:50 - 15:00	End	Future Ideas, wrap up and finish	Kerry Hamilton, VODG Director of Membership and Operations

Please note that attendance at face-to-face events is limited to one delegate per member organisation.

Accessibility

Please note, should you have any accessibility requirements, we will do our best to make necessary arrangements to support you; however, we may require up to four weeks notice, so please list your requirements on the booking form. Closed captions are used as standard in online meetings. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Professional Network Online Forums

The VODG professional network online forums are a leading online community within the sector. The forums promote peer-to-peer connections, provide opportunities to share good practice and can be used to identify areas for collaboration. Access is exclusively available to members and consists of role-specific communities that reflect our members’ responsibilities and interests.