Board Changes at Care & Support West

The end of the financial year saw substantial changes at the Board of Care & Support West, so..

It’s HELLO from new Chairman Deian Glynn of Manor Communities and GOODBYE from Len Collacott, our outgoing Chairman: You can read his final note to members below.

Please note that with Marilyn Clarke’s departure, our secretary is now Sam Hawker of AbleCare.

We also have a new business address: C/O Manor Community, Gladstone House, Gladstone Drive, Soundwell, Bristol. BS16 4RU.

Dear Members

I need to keep you up to date with events at C&SW and to inform you that I have decided to stand down as chairman of the organisation with effect from the end of the last financial year. From 1st April there will be a new chairman ---- and we are fortunate to have a willing successor in Deian Glyn from Manor Community who has volunteered to take on the role of Chair and I wish him the best of luck.

 It’s been 20 years since I first became part of ARCHA, the predecessor of C&SW, and around 8 years since I took over as chair. So much has happened in that time. Our industry has changed out of all recognition and regulation has ballooned. Long gone are the days of the relatively friendly LA inspector and we have morphed through National Care Standards Commission, CSCI, and eventually (so far) CQC. The industry has become far more professional, as have our regulators, and the workload required to deal with that regulation had increased dramatically.

I am proud that our organisation has changed and modernised with the industry in order to best represent the interests of our members and, ultimately, our service users. The industry, our members, and C&SW have all become so much more focussed and the level of care that we provide for an increasingly complex market continues to meet higher and higher targets. The beneficiary is the service user.

C&SW has continually moved forward and the organisation that now hosts the prestigious Annual Care Awards event is a long way from the one I first joined. As ever its leaders have embraced change, moved with the times, and remain a force to be reckoned with. C&SW is acknowledged both locally and nationally as an example of excellent representation.

My own business has needed to adapt and change in the same way. Knowing when to change is the key- so on that note I believe that a change of chair at this time would be a good thing. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with C&SW and its highs and lows but it is the right time to move on and let the next leader chart the course.

 From April 1st, I will also stand down as a Director, although Windmill Care will continue as members. I will always be grateful to ARCHA and its successor for giving me the knowledge of the care industry that a fledgling operator needed and you will always have my support. C&SW will need to remain vigilant and flexible to be able to carry on with its fine traditions. I leave the organisation in good hands and I have every confidence that it will do so.

I take this opportunity to thank the membership, the directors, and our Chief executive, David Smallacombe and his team of colleagues for all the help and support that you have given me over my time with you.

Best wishes to you all for the future.

Len Collacott