I joined CQC in 2017 and worked in Adult Social Care inspection and inspection manager roles across the North West, as well as inspection manager and lead for the supported living improvement coalition. I am now excited and proud to be part of CQC’s Regulatory Leadership, previously as Deputy Director for People with a learning disability and autistic people, and currently as Deputy Director of Adult Social Care. As part of this role, I lead work on CQC’s Dementia Strategy. Before I came to CQC I specialised in adult social care across residential, supported living, outreach and day service settings, and within this particularly support of autistic people, some of whom also had a learning disability or a mental health condition. I have had the opportunity to work in partnership with many fantastic and inspiring people, and I feel privileged that they invited me into their lives. Adult Social Care is my background and professional passion, influenced by my mother who worked in the field for almost 40 years and practically “brought me up” in it. I champion Adult Social Care as esteemed and equal partner of health care, and for all it can and does achieve for people in its own right. I continue to be inspired in my lifelong learning from and with people about how people communicate, think and experience the world in individual ways. I continue to learn about and encourage as a leader a whole life thinking from people’s point of view, what living and a good life means for each unique person. My determination remains to listen to and understand people, people’s preferences, ambitions and dreams, their experience of social and health care and joined up pathways. I am passionate about shifting the narrative to focus on more proactive partnership working, and high-quality person-centred care that values and respects people as equals, to make a difference and help ensure people can live their best lives, in their home or as close to home as possible