Katie is an individual living with multiple long term health conditions. Starting her career working in Health Psychology with families who were affected by awaiting paediatric transplants, her next role was then in frontline child protection and adoption roles as a qualified social worker. The burden of managing increasingly poor health meant that she had to give up her professional roles.

She then ‘stumbled’ into the role and the new career she has now. Her lived experience and professional training have combined to give her a platform to address issues around personalised care and the improvement of care particularly for those living with long term health conditions. Amongst other roles she is the ‘Lived experience and Co-production lead’ for the Coalition for Personalised Care. She combines these new found roles with managing her own health and home-educating her young son both alongside her wife who is also Katie's full time carer.

For Katie, improvement means a shared role in managing our health and social care needs between patients, family, carers and professionals. We do, after all, spend 365 days a year managing these conditions within the context of our own lives; with our unique challenges, inequities, strengths and priorities. Our opinion should matter and direct our own personal care.

Katie is passionate in including patient voices at all levels, not only in leading our care at an individual level, but also at government, policy, community and local levels in a way that hears all people that use the relevant services.

Join us in a room full of experience and experiences. All delegates will have the opportunity to take part and be inspired!

Based on Foundation 5: making the most of what we have available to us. 

Interested partners have already come forward to be a part of the Expo and work is on-going to organise this. 

Check back soon for more information or get in-touch if you think your service would like to be a part of it.

This year, the award presentations will be scattered throughout the day so there will be positive reminders of the great work that we are all building on.

Details on the categories and how to nominate are in the box link below.

Matt will be joined on the 'sofa' by a number of special guests. You will be invited to listen in to the conversation as we explore the need for a 'new relationship' and delve into the 5 foundations further. 

Based on the 5 foundations of Our Shared Agreement, attendees will get to choose two of the following workshops:

1. ‘Would I lie to you – truth or lie’ - Let’s think about the language we use when having conversations with and not about people, reflecting upon real stories from people with lived experience.  Did they really say that?
2. It's time for change. What does it take to be willing to do things differently? Hear an example and see how independent research is helping us understand how we enable the change makers.
3. Co-production? Why wouldn't you?! 
4. What gets us out of bed in the morning? Come and explore ways to find out what really matters to people we work with and support.