Paul Johnston

WM-ADASS Associate

Paul’s work encompasses care market risk, sustainability and resilience. He also leads on
our work to embed high-quality data and intelligence at the heart of commissioning, market-
shaping and workforce planning.

Paul has built successful careers at a senior level in major private and public sector
organisations, before co-founding an active and well-respected public sector change
management consultancy in 2008. He has a long association with West Midlands ADASS,
supporting improvement initiatives both regionally and within individual local systems
through a succession of assignments since 2009.

Paul’s current assignment is to take forward the key priority of sustaining the adult social
care market, within a developing national policy context that is being shaped by:

  • The forthcoming Casey Review, expected to set a new tone for national adult
    social care policy.
  • Local government reorganisation, which may alter commissioning and market-
    shaping responsibilities.
  • The ongoing development of CQC assurance inspections, requiring robust
    evidence of local authority leadership and market oversight.
  • The need for a revised approach to ethical international recruitment that balances
    workforce pressures with values-driven practice.

His work draws on previous scenario planning work with The Strategy Unit and regional
partners to shape a longer-term vision and better anticipate future risks.

A key component of this approach is embedding high-quality data and intelligence at the heart of commissioning, market-shaping and workforce planning, whilst developing and strengthening collaborative
relationships with key partners including WM-ADASS improvement networks, care providers
and people with lived experience.