#NACC2026
Join us on 14 - 15 October 2026 at Hilton St George's Park, Burton Upon Trent
The Future of Care Catering
Starts Here
5 Engaging presentations that challenge perspectives
If AI Can’t Find You, You Don’t Exist: The New Reality for Care Providers
AI is already changing how families choose care providers - but not in the way most organisations expect. Instead of browsing websites, the next generation is turning to AI platforms to ask direct questions such as, “What’s the best care home near me?”
These platforms generate instant recommendations based on fragmented data across the internet - including reviews, listings, content, and reputation signals - not just your website.
This creates what is known as your AI Shadow: the version of your organisation that AI presents to the world.In this session, Sachin Parmar will explore how AI is already shaping decisions in the care sector, why many providers are unknowingly being misrepresented, and the practical steps you can take to influence your AI Shadow - ensuring your organisation is accurately positioned, trusted, and chosen.
This is not about future trends. It is about what is happening now - and how to remain visible in a rapidly changing landscape.
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Different minds at the table: understanding neurodiversity in care
AuDHD Speaker, Comedian and Coach
Understanding behaviour is at the heart of delivering truly person-centred care—and Suzi Payton’s keynote offers a fresh, insightful and highly practical lens on how neurodiversity shapes the way people experience the world. As an autistic woman with ADHD, alongside a career in education and training, Suzi combines lived experience, professional expertise and humour to bring this important topic to life in a way that is both engaging and deeply relatable.
Focusing on the care environment, Suzi explores how differences in communication, sensory processing and routine can impact everyday experiences—particularly around mealtimes, which are often central to comfort, dignity and wellbeing. Delegates will gain a better understanding of behaviours that may be misunderstood, learning to recognise the underlying needs behind what can sometimes be labelled as “challenging”.
Attendees will leave with practical strategies they can immediately apply—from adapting communication styles to making small environmental changes that have a big impact. This session will empower teams to create more inclusive, compassionate environments for residents, colleagues and families alike—enhancing both care quality and workplace culture.
A Canadian Perspective on Care Catering - What can we learn?
Director of Quality, Nutrition and Food Service, Seasons Care Dietitian Network - Canada
Direcotr of New Developments and Special Projects, Seasons Care Dietitian Network - Canada
In this keynote, delegates will gain a clear “sector snapshot” of Canada’s long-term care landscape, including the legislation, standards and frameworks that underpin its approach to nutrition and food service. From mandated dietitian access to structured nutritional requirements and quality systems, Stacey and Twinkle will explore how these are delivered in practice and the measurable difference they make to resident wellbeing, dining experience and operational performance.
Crucially, this session looks ahead to the future of care catering. Drawing on real-world insight, data and sector-wide experience, Stacey and Twinkle will unpack the key challenges and opportunities shaping the industry - rising costs, workforce pressures, evolving resident expectations and innovation in menu design and delivery.
Attendees will leave with fresh ideas, practical inspiration and a broader perspective on how to strengthen their own food service offer in an increasingly complex and changing environment.
Mental health in the workplace: understanding the human life cycle
Join Sarah for a powerful and engaging session exploring mental health and wellbeing across the “human life cycle” at work. Drawing on extensive experience and lived insight, Sarah will open up meaningful conversations about the realities of working in care - particularly within high-pressure, emotionally demanding environments.
Through a combination of keynote and panel discussion, this session will equip delegates with practical, realistic strategies to build cultures of openness, compassion and psychological safety.
Attendees will leave inspired and empowered to take action - supporting both individual wellbeing and organisational change.
Hospices today: services, challenges, and the role of palliative care
This presentation provides an overview of Hospice UK and the role hospices play in supporting people with life-limiting illnesses. It explores the purpose of palliative care, the services hospices provide to patients and families and the current challenges facing the sector, including funding pressures, staffing shortages and increasing demand. The presentation also examines what is currently happening within UK hospices and how these changes are shaping the future of end-of-life care.
3 Educational Masterclasses
The case for plant-rich foods and how to get it right
Discover how plant-rich diets can play a vital role in improving health outcomes, supporting sustainability and enhancing food provision in care settings.
Led by Tanya Haffner RD, this practical masterclass explores the evidence behind plant-rich nutrition and provides clear guidance on how to implement it successfully.
Delegates will learn how to meet BDA nutrition and hydration standards, create appealing and balanced dishes and use behavioural strategies such as choice architecture to encourage healthier, more sustainable choices.
This session offers a powerful combination of insight and practical application, equipping attendees with the tools and confidence to drive meaningful change within their organisations.
Managing blood sugars in care homes
Beyond Compliance: Natasha’s Law and the Future of Food Allergy Safety
Food allergy safety is not just about compliance - it’s about protecting lives. This powerful and essential masterclass brings together Tanya and Nadim Laperouse, whose tireless campaigning following the tragic loss of their daughter Natasha led to one of the most significant changes in UK food safety legislation.
Delegates will gain a clearer understanding of current expectations, emerging challenges and where greater consistency and vigilance are still needed. Tanya and Nadim will also share insight into the wider movement for change, highlighting how awareness, education and continued advocacy are shaping the future of allergen safety.
Since 2021, Natasha’s Law has transformed allergen labelling for pre-packed foods for direct sale, closing a critical gap and improving safety for millions of people living with food allergies. But legislation is only part of the story. This session will provide a vital update on how the law is working in practice, the progress made across the sector and the ongoing work to drive further improvements in food safety and transparency.
Are you up to date on allergen safety? You will leave fully up to date, with strengthened confidence in your approach to compliance and a renewed commitment to ensuring allergen safety is embedded into everyday practice - not just as a requirement, but as a responsibility.
Elevating care through food with a variety of Cookery Demonstrations
Producing texture modified meals
In this engaging and highly practical session, delegates will gain valuable insight into how to create dishes that balance nutrition, flavour and cost-efficiency - all within the real-world constraints of care catering.
Drawing on her competition-winning experience and her role as a development chef, Ilona will share techniques for maximising flavour, working with seasonal ingredients and adapting meals to suit a wide range of needs, including texture-modified diets and dementia-friendly dining.
More than just a demonstration, this is a chance to see how simple ideas - done exceptionally well - can transform everyday menus.
Attendees will leave inspired, with practical tips, fresh ideas and renewed confidence to elevate their own food offer -creating meals that residents not only need, but genuinely look forward to.