“Challenges persist across health and social care in 2026, and they aren’t going away”. Demand continues to rise, workforce pressures remain acute, and organisations are being asked to deliver more with less. But while the external environment may not ease any time soon, leaders and managers can better equip themselves to navigate these pressures effectively, positively, and through best practice, collaboration, and values-led leadership. That is exactly why the IHSCM Leadership Theatre at Care Show London (29th–30th April 2026) has been designed, to give leaders the tools, confidence, and community they need to thrive in tough times.

Across the UK, services are tackling the ongoing realities of staff shortages, increasing complexity of needs, and the emotional toll placed on teams. Many organisations are in the midst of digital transformation, medicines optimisation work, and system-wide integration efforts, all while trying to maintain morale and retain skilled staff. Our members tell us that they are being asked to hold uncertainty, support exhausted teams, and drive improvement simultaneously — a combination that requires resilience, emotional intelligence, and clarity of purpose.

In this context, the IHSCM sessions at Care Show London offer timely, practical and real-world leadership development grounded in compassion, communication and collaboration. They are delivered by CEOs, Directors, innovators, consultants, and frontline leaders who are actively navigating the same pressures as the delegates who attend.

Across the two-day programme, delegates will explore how to lead with compassion during change, how to communicate clearly under pressure, and how to manage uncertainty with confidence. Roundtables will dive into systems leadership, cross-boundary collaboration, and the realities of supporting self-managing teams. Leaders will share lived experience of building resilient cultures, strengthening psychological safety, and supporting staff wellbeing in high-pressure environments.

This programme also reflects the broader work IHSCM is doing year-round to support leaders across the sector. Alongside our in-person events, we deliver a suite of online leadership programmes designed to meet leaders where they are:

· Compassionate Leadership Programme — helping leaders embed empathy, authenticity, and psychological safety into everyday practice.

· Systems Leadership Programme — supporting leaders to work across boundaries, build trust, and influence complex systems.

· High-Performance Leadership Programme — equipping managers with tools to strengthen clarity, accountability, and team alignment.

· Deputy Managers Programme — providing emerging leaders with the confidence, capability, and practical skills needed to step into senior roles.

These programmes sit alongside our Special Interest Groups — including Digital Health and Technology, Social Care Innovators, Women in Leadership, and others — as well as our wider Hub Networks, which bring together universities, home care providers, care associations, social housing partners, NHS trusts, and more, and our competency-based development and validation routes — all designed to strengthen leadership capability across health and social care.

What makes this programme particularly important is its alignment with the sector’s current priorities. As organisations plan for the next financial year, many are re-evaluating how they support their workforce, how they lead through uncertainty, and how they build cultures that can withstand ongoing pressure. The IHSCM sessions provide space to step back, reflect, and learn from peers who are facing similar challenges — and doing so with creativity, courage, and compassion.

Delegates will leave with actionable strategies, renewed clarity, and a stronger sense of connection to a community of leaders committed to improving care. In a year where pressures show no sign of easing, this programme offers the knowledge, tools, and inspiration to lead well, even when circumstances are tough.

Care Show London 2026 is more than an event — it’s an opportunity to strengthen leadership, support teams, and shape a more resilient future for health and social care.

If you want to continue developing your leadership, connect with peers, and access year-round support, consider becoming an IHSCM member. You’ll join a growing community committed to compassionate, values-driven improvement — and you’ll never have to lead alone.