Ahead of the mayoral and local elections, Regional Director Estephanie Dunn and Board Chair Carmel have written to the mayoral candidates asking them to put nursing at the heart of their manifestos - bit.ly/44kvEOx - have your say and don't forget your photo ID!

Delegates at the latest meeting of the North West Multicultural Group are taking part in a workshop to reflect on the NW #BAME anti-racist framework and the five anti-racist principles. To become a member, or for further info, please email [email protected] #equality

Don't forget, Greater Liverpool and Knowsley RCN Branch members, your monthly branch meeting is taking place on Teams tomorrow from 6pm. Join us to discuss the issues affecting you and your profession and look ahead to June's Congress. Register here: bit.ly/49qqOAj

There's still time to register for Tuesday's North West Multicultural Group meeting, taking place at our offices in Bolton. We aim to explore the issues around race, discrimination and equality in the workplace and to find potential solutions.
More info: bit.ly/3J5MbMo

If you're attending, or considering attending, Congress this year then please join the RCN North West Board for a special pre-Congress session, taking place online on 9 May from 5 - 7pm. We'll go through what to expect, how it works and how to take part.
bit.ly/44aTX1v

Calling all members of the RCN Cheshire East and RCNCheshireWestBranch branches! Your next joint meeting is taking place online on Tuesday 14 May. Join us to discuss the issues affecting you and your profession and look ahead to next month's Congress. More info: bit.ly/3xOnJNf

Whilst there’s a lot of background noise on this film (it was a busy event), Chair of the NW Regional Board Carmel says what’s been really evident at today’s independent sector conference, is the passion staff working in this sector have for their patients #RCNIHSC

That's a wrap on our first North West region Independent Health and Social Care Conference. Our sincere thanks to our many excellent and informative speakers and to all of our delegates who attended today, we hope you found the day useful.

Closing today's North West #RCNIHSC Conference is RCN IHSC Transformational Lead, Claire Sutton. She emphasises the importance of IHSC members getting involved in their local branches, forums and committees to help increase the representation of IHSC members across the RCN.

RCN Professional Lead for L&D, Lucy Tomlins, presents the RCN Leadership Programme to our #RCNIHSC delegates, defining the different forms of leadership and introducing the six learning options members can access to develop leadership skills. Read more: rcnlearn.rcn.org.uk

Alan Chalkley, RCN Information Literacy Assistant, demonstrates the vast scope of the information available to members on the Royal College of Nursing Libraries, demonstrating the key features and functionality of the online system and signposting resources of specific interest to the IHSC. #RCNIHSC

Our next speaker at #RCNIHSC is Lena Johnson, RCN Professional Lead Nursing Workforce, who talks our delegates through the RCN Nursing Workforce Standards, encouraging members to put themselves forward as Standards Champions. Read more here: bit.ly/3xKNT3C

Michelle Howarth, from the Social Care Nurse Advisory Council for GM, tells #RCNIHSC how essential it is to shift the perception of the value of a career in social care nursing, along with a reminder of how vital it is to always keep in mind the person inside the patient.

Paula Palmer-Charlery, Regulation Adviser for the North West at Nursing and Midwifery Council is now presenting to our #RCNIHSC delegates about Fitness to Practise in the Independent Sector and the resources and support available when managing concerns.

Highlighting the importance of collaboration between the NHS and IHSC, Gill Gibson from NHS Greater Manchester tells #RCNIHSC about their ambition to create a well-supported nursing workforce in care homes to effectively meet the needs of the population and keep people out of hospital.

Our next speaker is Sean Freeman, Senior Lecturer at University of Bolton, who have created a further education module for professionals working in IHSC in which students can access all learning, including group work with tutors, online and at a pace and timescale that suits them.

Pam Williams from Warrington Borough Council is now telling the #RCNIHSC Conference about how multiple factors, including a lack of standardised training across private care homes and very limited access to NHS training partners, necessitated the creation of their clinical skills programme.

We start with a presentation from Abbey Healthcare regarding the introduction of their comprehensive training programme for their staff and how, contrary to popular misconception, a wealth of career development opportunities exist for nursing within care homes. #RCNIHSC

We’re underway at our NW #RCNIHSC Conference. After a welcome from our Regional Director, Estephanie Dunn, Lead Nurse Melissa sets the scene for today, describing the many branches of IHSC and outlining the aims of the day, including collaborative working and ideas sharing.

Today we’re hosting our inaugural North West Independent Health and Social Care Conference, lead by our Lead Nurse for IHSC, Melissa Stanton, focusing on professional development and workforce retention. If you’re at the event, please tag us in your tweets and use #RCNIHSC