The past month has involved more travel than I’ve done in quite some time, with visits to Newcastle, London and Milton Keynes all featuring in the diary. Along the way I’ve consumed far too many train station coffees and more than my fair share of Greggs sausage rolls!
Unfortunately, much of the month was spent feeling unwell. For around three weeks I experienced symptoms that were very similar to when I had Covid-19. Looking back, I probably should have slowed down and taken more time to recover. At one point, exhausted and unsteady, I almost fell between a train and the platform. It was a frightening reminder that our health really does need to come first.
Despite that, I was determined to be involved in the away day for our new transitions work. The opportunity to come together with colleagues and continue developing this important area of work felt too important to miss. Supporting better transitions for young people remains one of the most significant opportunities we have to improve lives and outcomes.
London brought a particularly memorable experience when I was invited by the Autism Alliance to attend a session with Baroness Casey. True to recent form, train delays almost got the better of me and I arrived with only a couple of minutes to spare. Sometimes those last-minute arrivals have unexpected rewards. I found myself sitting alongside people I hadn’t seen for more than ten years, reconnecting with colleagues from my commissioning days.
It was encouraging to hear Baroness Casey listening carefully to discussions about the continuing need for specialist autism support alongside the development of more inclusive mainstream community services. Too often these are presented as opposing approaches when, in reality, both have important roles to play in supporting autistic people to live good lives.
The following day I travelled to Milton Keynes for the Together4Change fifth birthday celebrations. It was a wonderful opportunity to finally meet many people in person after years of working together. Being able to thank everyone for their contribution and celebrate what has been achieved over the last five years made for a very special occasion. It was also an opportunity to thank Matt Lester as he stepped down from his role as Co-chair, recognising the commitment and leadership he has brought to Together4Change.
Alongside the travel, a significant amount of time has been spent working with colleagues from the Care Provider Alliance on the Fair Pay Agreement. Preparations continue for the next stages of the process, including shortlisting and interviews scheduled for November.
A great deal of effort has gone into ensuring that social care is strongly represented in discussions and that negotiating body membership reflects the breadth of our sector. This includes making sure the voices of organisations supporting people with learning disabilities and autistic people are heard and represented. These conversations matter, not only for the future of the workforce but for the people who rely on high-quality support every day.
As I move into November, I’m preparing for the first anniversary of my husband’s passing. I’ll be spending the day in Hampshire with my son, taking some time to reflect and remember.
I find it hard to believe that a whole year has passed already. Life now looks very different to how it did this time last year, and navigating that change continues to be a journey. Throughout it all, I remain incredibly grateful to my wonderful colleagues for their kindness, understanding and ongoing support. Their encouragement, both professionally and personally, has meant more than they probably realise.
As I look back on the month, I am reminded of the energy, commitment and determination that exists across our sector. Even amidst train delays, illness, packed diaries and countless coffees, there remains a shared focus on creating better support, stronger communities and improved outcomes for people who draw on social care.
Sometimes that feels like progress worth travelling for.
Samantha Leonard
ARC England Director
October 2026
You must be logged in to post a comment.