Every year AACE organises a national event called the Ambulance Leadership Forum (ALF) which gives staff from each of our member services the unique opportunity to discuss all things related to the many strategic and operational challenges and opportunities the ambulance sector confronts.
Originally designed as a forum for board members, over the years ALF has also started to appeal to a broader section of staff from ambulance services who increasingly attend to network, learn and share ideas and thoughts about improving all aspects of the service.
It is the only dedicated event of its kind for the UK ambulance sector and as such has become a key date in the diary for many.
>> Did you attend ALF 2023? If so, please provide some brief feedback here <<
Most delegates ever
This year’s event was held in October 2023 in South Wales – the first time ALF has ever been held outside England – and attracted over 400 delegates, the most we have ever welcomed to our prestigious annual event.
The format follows a similar pattern each year, with a central stage hosting the main agenda and keynote speakers and presentations covering a range of topics. There are then multiple break-out sessions in separate rooms that can be attended by those with specific interest in those topics. These may be technology focused, people focused or related to specific cultural subjects such as reducing misogyny and improving sexual safety.
On the evening of the first day there is a dinner during which the annual AACE Outstanding Service Awards 2023 are presented. This is a very special part of the ALF event where we pay tribute to seventeen ambulance staff from each of our member services who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their work during the past year.
The whole event is funded by sponsors who can bring their products and services to ALF and meet key people from the sector in the exhibition area.
First rate speakers and presentations
ALF 2023 was kindly chaired by Lena Samuels, Chair of NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (and former SCAS chair), who said:
It was a privilege chairing ALF once again and particularly with the topics for this year’s forum focusing on wellbeing and system working, topics very close to my priority areas.
The conference provided a showcase for the diverse innovations underway in emergency care to improve patient safety and experience with some inspirational speakers such as Nazir Afzal OBE, who drove home the importance of leadership and culture and its direct impact on outcomes. We were left enriched and enlightened as a consequence.
Lena was not the only person to comment on the quality of this year’s speakers with many delegates highlighting Nazir Afzal OBE, British solicitor and former prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), as their particular favourite.
Nazir’s session was entitled ‘The Decency Deficit’ and explained how toxic workplaces and culture are the biggest challenges for leaders.
National Ambulance Diversity and Inclusion Forum (NADIF) meeting
Prior to the official opening of ALF 2023 on 2 October, AACE hosted a National Ambulance Diversity and Inclusion Forum (NADIF) meeting to consider how we can collectively make the ambulance sector less impervious to equality, diversity and inclusion. Representatives from ambulance service peer support groups (BME, LGBT+, disability, women) were invited to this extremely lively and busy session, alongside ambulance trusts’ equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) leads and freedom to speak up (FTSU) guardians – all of whom were also invited to attend the main ALF conference. You can revisit the NADIF meeting here.
During this session, a sector commitment was announced for the introduction of a minimum standard of fifteen hours (two days) devoted per month each for the chair and deputy / vice chair for each of the following networks: BME / BAME, LGBT+, disability, women – or their equivalents (in accord with the four national networks).
This protected time will be used to prepare for and attend trust network meetings, undertake emergent actions, deliver any associated pieces of work and prepare for and attend national meetings. (The agreed caveat was that in the event of operational challenges or increased REAP levels, there was a shared understanding that this may not always be able to be accommodated).
>> Did you attend ALF 2023? If so, please provide some brief feedback here <<
Research and innovation presentations
On the morning of the second day, there was a session for five short presentations on research and innovation, where the audience were invited to pick their favourite.
Despite an excellent quality of presentations across the board, the winning session was, ‘Integrated Access Partnership (IAP): Intelligent Mental Health System response’ led by Sasha Johnston, NHSE Clinical Fellow (Mental Health – South West England), NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow, Research Paramedic and SWASFT Senior Mental Health Lead and Rhys Hancock, Director of Nursing, AHPs & Governance, BrisDoc.
Reflections on ALF 2023
Newly-appointed AACE managing director Anna Parry reflected on the ALF event underlining how the sector should “… make equality, diversity and inclusion our business and take action to move it into the centre of ambulance service thinking.”
She added:
We have been reminded how inextricably connected urgent and emergency care are, and how it is incumbent upon us in our roles to respond to patient need rather than demand and embrace integration. We need to double down on our efforts across the sector and more broadly to collaborate, share and learn from each other to solve the problems we face.
Anna’s summary also emphasised leadership and collaboration, reserving particular praise for for Welsh Ambulance CEO Tracy Myhill’s ‘five strands of leadership style’, where she added;
Leadership has been fundamental to all we’ve heard and talked about the past two days. Tracy’s five leadership strands of authenticity, care, social justice, being better together and integrity – I would really advocate you all taking those five areas away and thinking about what you are doing well and what you may need to focus on more.
Catch up on the presentations
The full agenda for the ALF 2023 event – along with recordings of the speaker presentations are available here.
Delegates’ comments
I thought there was a great mix of ambulance specific content along with broader NHS and wider public sector contributions. The theming of the conference with culture and urgent and emergency care worked well and the balance between national and local perspectives and contributions was great. Something for everyone I would say. The atmosphere was good too, formal enough but friendly and welcoming with lots of humility around the place and on the stage.
“I liked it being more open to other managers rather than just aimed at execs and directors – if we want to see future leaders develop then they need to be exposed to these types of events; we need to expand and direct ALF to the wider ambulance workforce.”
Super conference, well run and interesting speakers particularly Nazir Afzal, thanks so much.
“A very professional, high-class event and opportunity for networking with so many people to try and spend some time meeting in person for the first time.”
You put on a totally brilliant ALF this year. Everyone I have talked to about it has said they enjoyed it and learnt lots so top marks to you all.
“I just wanted to thank you and your team for organising such an excellent conference. The range of topics and discussions were very thought provoking and the opportunity to network with others was invaluable.”
I just wanted to reach out and say thank you so much for accommodating us at ALF this week. I’ve never been before and found it thoroughly enjoyable and informative. I loved the breakout sessions and hearing the examples of good practice taking place across the sector and especially enjoyed the session that Nazir Afzal did on the Tuesday morning, I thought he was a very inspirational leader who really challenges the system to influence change.
“Great content and variety. I wanted to attend most of the breakout sessions so had to make some difficult choices.”
It was my first time at AACE, and I thought the conference was interesting, thought provoking and enjoyable. Having hosted similar events myself, I know just how much hard work goes into setting them up and running them so please pass on my thanks to the team for a great event and all their hard work.
>> Did you attend ALF 2023? If so, please provide some brief feedback here <<
Our next ALF event
You will be able to keep up-to-speed on arrangements for our next ALF event here as they progress.
Your trust’s chief executive’s office is responsible for deciding which staff members they send to ALF each year.
