A New Year of Growth, Quality and Commitment
As we welcome the New Year, it’s a natural moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead with renewed purpose. Over the past year, our work has continued to strengthen standards, build confidence, and support organisations committed to delivering high-quality end of life care through the Gold Standards Framework. We have 150 registrations for accreditation and reaccreditation this year already, demonstrating a strong and growing commitment across the sector to excellence, consistency, and continuous improvement. This level of engagement reflects both the value of accreditation and the shared ambition to embed best practice in end of life and palliative care.
Supporting Improvement Through Funding
We are grateful to have received a £5,000 grant from a charitable funder. This funding will enable us to extend our reach. Part of the grant will be allocated to providing free Advance Care Planning resources to individuals and organisations who request them. These resources are designed to support meaningful conversations, informed decision-making, and truly person-centred care, helping people to plan ahead with confidence and clarity. If you would like to request free Advance Care Planning resources, please visit our website or contact the Gold Standards Framework team directly to find out more about availability and how to access them.
Strengthening Our Leadership
We are delighted to welcome Shirley Hall as a new member of our Board. Shirley is a Registered Nurse with a strong background in health, wellbeing, and innovation across the care sector. She spent ten years working in the NHS before joining the British Heart Foundation and has since held a range of senior leadership roles, including at the Retirement Villages Group and The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, where she led the development of organisation-wide wellbeing programmes and successfully implemented the Gold Standards Framework for all residents. Her work demonstrates a deep commitment to improving quality of life and embedding best practice in care settings. Shirley’s expertise and forward-thinking approach will be a valuable addition to our Board as we continue to evolve and expand our work.
Expanding Our Assessor Team
To support the growing number of organisations on their accreditation journey, we have also welcomed new accreditation assessors to the Gold Standards Framework team. Their knowledge and experience will help us to ensure that the accreditation process remains robust, supportive, and meaningful.
Launching Our Primary Care Programme
We are thrilled to announce that our new Primary Care Programme is almost complete and will soon be ready to share with GP practices across the UK. This programme has been designed to support primary care teams in delivering high-quality, person-centred end of life care in line with the Gold Standards Framework. We will be launching the programme at the Primary Care Show in May, and look forward to engaging with practices across the country to embed best practice in primary care.
Events and Engagement
2026 promises to be an exciting year for events and networking:
- We will be exhibiting at the National Care Forum Managers Annual Conference and the Palliative Care Congress in March, and the Primary Care Show in May, connecting with professionals across the health and social care sectors.
- We are proud to be sponsoring the Palliative Care Awards in July, celebrating excellence in palliative and end of life care.
- Our Annual Conference returns in September in Birmingham, with speakers already lined up to share insights, knowledge, and practical guidance on delivering high-quality care.
These events offer opportunities to learn and share experiences and connect with a wider network of like-minded individuals in health and social care.
Looking Ahead
The year ahead brings exciting opportunities. With increasing engagement in accreditation, new funding to support wider access to resources, strengthened governance, and an expanded assessor team, we are well placed to continue supporting organisations to deliver end of life care that truly makes a difference. Thank you to everyone who is part of this journey – our accredited organisations, those working towards accreditation, our Board, assessors, partners, and funders. Together, we are raising standards and shaping a future where quality care is recognised and valued.