The Care Professional Organisation (formerly NACAS), was founded in 2016 by Paul Featherstone. Whilst working in Care, Paul recognised the persistent undervaluation and under recognition of carers. From this, he formed the Care Professional Organisation (CPO): a professional body designed to represent, support, and elevate carers, supported by a dedicated team with firsthand experience of care work.
As a former carer, Paul reflects on how physically and emotionally demanding the role was from the outset. He remains acutely aware of its challenges: long shifts, physical strain, complex communication, heavy admin, and ongoing mental pressure. These pressures take a real toll on individuals. The turning point came when, despite his hard work, he felt he was not recognised as a skilled professional. He questioned the lack of positive representation and the absence of spaces focused on supporting carers themselves, not just the organisations they work for, but the individuals on the front line.
This shaped his vision: a professional body that would recognise carers as skilled professionals, amplify their voices, and provide direct support tailored to their needs. The fundamental vision of the CPO, has always been centred around respect for carers, championing them as skilled professionals who deserve to be supported, recognised, and appreciated.
This is why the CPO matters: it exists to give carers representation, recognition, and a collective voice in a sector where these have long been missing.
As the Care Professional Organisation, we endeavour to give something back. We understand the story and emotional journey of care work, and we move beyond passive support by taking an active role in empowering carers. Part of how we do this is through our memberships, developed by our team. At our core, as described by our founder Paul Featherstone, we are “built by carers, for carers”, rooted in real experience rather than theory.
As a non-profit organisation, our focus is on sustainability and impact. Our memberships are low-cost and high-quality, ensuring accessibility while allowing us to continue and expand our work. We also collaborate with stakeholders, policymakers, and professionals across the health and social care sector, who can help drive meaningful change.
We have developed the Care Professional Register (CPR), designed for care workers who are not currently subject to statutory regulation. Registration is open to all those in professional care roles, including those providing personal care and nursing care.
Alongside our policy work, we are increasingly active in the media, helping to raise awareness of the issues facing care professionals. Our CEO, Liz Blacklock, a retired nurse, was recently featured on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, where she spoke about the need for stronger regulation and clearer standards across the sector. We have also represented care professionals at the UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry, ensuring their experiences during the pandemic and their ongoing contribution is recognised. Across all this work, our aim is simple: to give something back to the caring community and to ensure carers are seen, heard, and respected.
Our recent rebrand to the Care Professional Organisation reflects this commitment. It signals a clearer focus on recognising care as a profession, strengthening the collective voice of care professionals, and operating a trusted professional register that supports both standards and status.
Central to this is our membership offering, which is designed to support individual care professionals directly providing recognition, resources, and a sense of professional identity within the sector. For those interested in being part of this work, you can explore our membership on the website, or you are welcome to contact us by email:
Website: https://careprofessionalorganisation.co.uk
Email:
This rebrand marks an important step forward, but our focus remains the same: to represent the care community and help build a future where carers have a voice of their own. • We’re always glad to hear from others who share an interest in supporting and strengthening the care profession.
The CPO Team.