VODG Digital and Technology Directors' Professional Network Meeting | July 2026

14.00 - 14.05

Start

Welcome and housekeeping

Kerry Hamilton, Director of Membership and Operations, VODG

14.05 - 14.10

Introductions and Programme Overview

• Introductions and programme overview

  Session aims and reminders:

  • Closed member space

  • Chatham House–style discussion

  • Encouragement to share honest experience

Ben Sutton, VODG Co-chair and Group Chief Digital & Information Officer , Dimensions

14.10 - 14.25

Session 1: News & sector oversight: what we’ve learned recently

A short, fast‑moving opener to set context and create a peer environment.

Content to include:

• Key developments affecting digital and technology leaders, including:

  • Regulation, compliance, and sector policy impacts

  • Health and social care tech developments

  • Digital and infrastructure trends

• “What we’ve learned recently”:

  • Projects underway in member organisations (e.g. network changes, identity, system migrations)

  • Lessons learned from recent programmes, tenders, or transformations

• Open floor:

  • Invitations for members to briefly share news or learning from their own organisations

Kate Doodson, VODG Co-chair and Chief Transformation, Performance and Digital Officer, Brandon Trust

With contributions from co-chairs Craig Richards, Executive Director of Transformation and IT, FitzRoy and Ben Sutton, Group Chief Digital & Information Officer , Dimensions

14.25 - 14.40

Session 2: Survey insights

Survey insights: HR & Finance systems across the sector (15 mins)

A high‑level walkthrough of the pre‑session member survey.
 

Overview to cover:

• What HR and finance systems members are using

• Length of time in use and perceived fit

• Satisfaction levels: what users feel works well vs. poorly

• Themes around:

  • Implementation experience

  • Level and impact of customisation

  • Integration and API maturity

• Emerging patterns and standout issues (without naming suppliers)

Co-chairs

14:40 - 15.05

Panel & discussion: HR systems – lived experience (25. mins)

Discussion focus:

• Why the system was chosen

• What has worked well in practice

• What has been painful or disappointing

• Customisation: where it helped, where it hurt

• Integration reality vs. what was sold

• What they would do differently next time

Followed by:

• Open discussion and questions from the wider group

• Sharing additional member perspectives

Chair: Craig Richards, Executive Director of Transformation and IT, FitzRoy

Panel: 2–3 member organisations (drawn from survey volunteers)

15.05 -15.30

Panel & discussion: Finance systems – lived experience (25 mins)

Discussion focus:

• Implementation and migration experience

• Costs (expected vs unexpected)

• Fit with social care financial models

• Integration with HR, payroll, rostering, and other systems

• Vendor behaviour: promises vs delivery

• Red flags to look for when procuring

Followed by:

• Open discussion and member Q&A

Chair: Kate Doodson, Chief Transformation, Performance and Digital Officer, Brandon Trust

Panel: 2–3 member organisations (drawn from survey volunteers)

15.30 - 15.45

So what?” – collective learning & practical tips (15 mins)

Facilitated discussion

Pulling together shared insights into practical value for members, including:

• Common pitfalls when procuring HR and finance systems

• Questions directors should always ask suppliers

• Warning signs around:

  • Over‑customisation

  • Immature or misleading APIs

• Implementation risk

• Practical procurement and evaluation tips

  • Pilots

  • Low‑risk validation approaches

  • Avoiding contract and configuration traps

Co-chairs

15.45 - 15.55

Future Topic Ideas

Issues members would value exploring in future sessions

• What members would like to explore next:
  • Rostering systems
  • Digital care records
  • Billing and CRM
• Interest in future formats:
  • Further deep‑dives
  • Potential in‑person roundtables

Ben Sutton, Group Chief Digital & Information Officer, Dimensions

11.55 - 12.00

End

Wrap up and finish

Kerry Hamilton, Director of Membership and Operations, VODG