Des Kelly has been Executive Director of the National Care Forum
(NCF) since the organisation was formed in 2003. The National Care Forum
(NCF) is a membership based organisation established to promote quality
care outcomes for people receiving care and support services through
the not-for-profit sector.
Des was previously Partnerships Director with BUPA Care Homes from
1998 to 2003 and held the posts of HR Director with Care First Plc and
Court Cavendish Plc. He has a background of working in the residential
care sector with both older people and other adults and has written
extensively for the professional press with over 150 articles published.
He was the Editor of the journal Social Caring for 10 years (until
2009), acts as News Editor of the monthly magazine Care Management
Matters and sits on the Editorial Board of several journals in the care
sector. He is the author of five books on social care and management.
His qualifications include B.Sc. (Hons) in Behavioural Science, CQSW and
M.A. in Applied Social Studies.
Des has been an Associate Fellow at the University of Warwick School
of Health and Social Studies since 2003. He is a member of the Institute
of Directors and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He has had an
involved in the ‘My Home Life’ programme (which works to improve quality
of life for people in care homes) since it was established and chairs
the UK Advisory Group. He is on the Board of Directors of the
Residential Forum and the National Skills Academy for Social Care and
chairs the leadership and management advisory board of the academy. He
was the first chair of the Care Provider Alliance – which brings
together the 11 umbrella representative bodies in adult social care. He
represents the NCF on a number of national groups and initiatives
including the CQC Provider Advisory Group and the National Market
Development Forum established by ADASS.
Des was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2007
for services to social care. He was Care Personality of the Year in the
Caring Times National Care Awards in November 2007. He held the honorary
position of President of the Social Care Association 2007-08. He became
Chair of the charity the Centre for Policy on Ageing (CPA) in March
2010.
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