CQC Inspections Digital Conference 

Gerard has worked on improvement and transformation programmes for over 10 years and leads SCIE’s national work in this area. This includes leading a multi-million-pound work programme supporting government departments with adult social care improvement and transformation, workforce development and knowledge management, while ensuring a safeguarding culture is central to these developments. 

Gerard has been a member of a number of advisory boards, including the Health and Care Publications Advisory Board. 

He is currently a member of the CHKS Accreditation Council, advising on the development and publication of accredited quality standards for health and care organisations. 

Ed Watkinson is the Director of Watkinson Consulting and has over 30 years’ experience of social care. He has been a care assistant, registered manager, area manager, care manager, commissioner, strategic lead for County Council,  regulatory inspector, inspection methodology developer, policy writer, consultant advisor to CQC, internal regulator for large care home provider and Director of Care Quality for the biggest provider of compliance tools in the UK.

In 2018 Ed made the decision to establish Watkinson Consulting Ltd, and since then has supported many providers to improve and understand the regulatory environment in which they operate. He also works with the National Care Forum, is a trustee for NAPA (the National Activity Providers Association).

Dave is a GP working within the Leeds GP Confederation as the Associate Director, Clinical Professions. The Leeds GP Confederation is a city-wide federation providing primary care and specialist services to the Leeds population.

In addition to previously working as a GP partner in a CQC rated Outstanding practice, and clinical director within a primary care provider-at-scale, he has held the role of Deputy Medical Director within an NHS Trust and now works within the Yorkshire Ambulance Service alongside his Leeds GP Confederation role.

He has worked as a CQC GP Specialist Advisor and has used his knowledge to work with his team to achieve a CQC Outstanding rating for the Leeds GP Confederation. He has good understanding and experience of designing and delivering services, ensuring that good governance, quality of care and patient experience is key to success.

Avril is currently the Director of Operations in Adult Social Care Camden. Camden were the first Local Authority to receive a rating of Outstanding under the new CQC assurance framework.

Avril is a Social Worker by background and has 30 years experience of working in Adult Social Care in a range of operational and leadership roles.

Margaret Ikpoh the current Royal College of General Practitioners Vice Chair for Professional Development and Training Standards. 

She is a lead researcher and has had previous roles with the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber as a research champion for First5 GPs and AITs. 

She is the current National NIHR Settings lead for Primary Care and a Trustee for the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management. 

She is the former Associate Director for Primary Care for Hull York Medical School and is a GP Trainer. 

In 2021 she was voted the Fellow of the year at the RCGP Inspire awards. 

She is the former co-Chair for the regional Primary Care Workforce Group with NHS England & Improvement for the North-East and Yorkshire Regional People Board and is still an active member. 

In 2022 she was voted one of HSJ’s top 50 most influential Black, Asian and minority ethnic figures in health. 

In 2024 she was awarded the Caribbean and African Health Network Special Recognition Award for Leadership in Primary Care.  

In 2024 she was appointed as a Trustee for the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management 

In 2025 Margaret Ikpoh was also appointed as Patron of the Caribbean & African Black Healthcare Awards, in recognition and celebration of her leadership, advocacy, and longstanding contributions to advancing equity within healthcare. 

In 2025 Margaret was also appointed as Patron of the National BAME Health and Care Awards, reflecting her profound commitment to serving communities that have long been marginalized or overlooked. 

In 2025, Margaret was also appointed as Deputy Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire, to support the Lord-Lieutenant in their duties, representing the Crown within the region, and fostering good relationships and cooperation between organizations and communities. 

Jo Mackintosh has nearly 40 years of NHS experience, spanning acute, community, and primary care services. Over the course of her career, she has held a variety of roles including dental nurse, practice management, oral health improvement practitioner, service improvement, operational management, and strategic lead for patient and public involvement. 

Jo first joined Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in 2001, where she has dedicated herself to improving the quality of patient care and experience. In 2017, she took up a seconded role with NHS England, where she further developed her skills in strategic leadership and collaborative working, specifically within public and patient involvement across the North East and North Cumbria. She returned to Northumbria in 2022 to take on the role of Chief Experience Officer. 

Supported by Northumbria throughout her professional development, Jo holds a BA (Hons) in Health and Social Care and an MSc in Healthcare Management. She is deeply passionate about the experience of both NHS patients and staff and is driven by a strong belief in the value of listening, learning, and continuous improvement. 

Originally from Liverpool, Jo moved from Liverpool to the North East 25 years ago to be with her now husband, Lewis. She loves living in the North East along with Lewis and her 2 Boston Terriers Bella and Peggy. 

Amrit is an established Care Provider and has first-hand experience of working in the sector and the complex range of issues that our members face. She is also a practising solicitor specialising in Regulatory Compliance and Health.  She brings this wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role as National Care Associations Compliance Director. 

Dr Amar Shah is a Consultant forensic psychiatrist & has held the role of Chief Quality Officer at East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) since 2017. He leads at executive and Board level on quality, performance, strategy, planning, analytics and communications. Amar has led the approach to quality at ELFT for over a decade, and has embedded a large-scale quality improvement infrastructure and quality management system, with demonstrable results across key areas of organisational performance, and three consecutive ‘Outstanding’ ratings by the Care Quality Commission.​

Amar is the National Clinical Director for Improvement in England, leading the application of improvement across England’s health and care system since 2023.​

He is the national improvement lead for mental health at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, leading a number of large-scale improvement collaboratives on topics such as restrictive practice, workforce wellbeing and equalities.​

Amar is chair of the Scientific Advisory Group at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and also acts as faculty with IHI, teaching and guiding improvers and healthcare systems across the world. ​

He is honorary professor at the University of York School for Business and Society, and an honorary fellow with the Faculty for Public Health. Amar has completed an executive MBA in healthcare management, a masters in mental health law and a postgraduate certificate in medical education. He is a regular national and international keynote speaker at healthcare improvement conferences and has published over 50 peer-review articles in the field of quality management. He was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by His Majesty the King in 2024 for services to healthcare improvement.

I began my career in care at the age of 16, starting as a care assistant. I quickly realised that I had a true passion for working with the elderly, which inspired me to complete my NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care through college by the age of 17. 

At 18, I took on my first role as a senior carer—one of the youngest seniors in Nottingham at the time. I went on to complete my NVQ Level 3 and was proud to become a Team Leader at Hall Park when it first opened in 2010. 

That same year, I also started my own family, welcoming my son in 2010, followed by two daughters in 2014 and 2016. Each time, I was eager to return to work, as Hall Park has always felt like a second home—a place where colleagues are more like family. 

In 2019, Hall Park came under new ownership during a period of great uncertainty, as we were also facing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst staff changes and the pressures of the time, I stepped up into the Deputy Manager role. Around this time, I also discovered I was expecting my fourth daughter—an unexpected but joyful surprise! 

During a period of high turnover in management, I stepped into the Acting Manager position to support the team. Although I had planned to take six months of maternity leave, I returned after just three months, following an inspection during my absence. I felt strongly that my team needed leadership and stability to boost morale and maintain high standards of care. 

Upon my return, I made the decision to fully take on the role of General Manager and applied to become the registered manager. I was committed to supporting the team and leading Hall Park back to the strong, person-centred home it had always been. 

One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been leading the transformation of our CQC rating—from Requires Improvement to Outstanding. This incredible achievement was a true collaboration involving our staff, residents, families, and support teams. We embraced a person-centred approach, giving everyone a voice through ambassador roles and inclusive initiatives. Together, we built a culture of trust, respect, and shared purpose—something I am incredibly proud to have been part of. 

In my spare time, when I’m not working, I am a full-time mother to four wonderful children. My children have grown up knowing and loving my work, and they’ve also become an important part of life at Hall Park. Residents have enjoyed watching them grow up over the years, creating a real sense of extended family. Relatives often comment on the warm intergenerational relationships we foster here, which add something truly special to the atmosphere at Hall Park. 

Gerard has worked on improvement and transformation programmes for over 10 years and leads SCIE’s national work in this area. This includes leading a multi-million-pound work programme supporting government departments with adult social care improvement and transformation, workforce development and knowledge management, while ensuring a safeguarding culture is central to these developments. 

Gerard has been a member of a number of advisory boards, including the Health and Care Publications Advisory Board. 

He is currently a member of the CHKS Accreditation Council, advising on the development and publication of accredited quality standards for health and care organisations.