Since 2019, Victoria has played a central role in strengthening ARC England’s research, policy and influencing capability, helping to ensure that the challenges facing their learning disability and autism providers, and the people they support, are better understood and represented within the wider social care debate.

A defining achievement has been her leadership in developing and establishing the ARC England Learning Disability Research Unit in 2022, creating the evidence infrastructure needed to challenge assumptions, expose systemic pressures and strengthening policy, commissioning and provider decision making.

At the heart of this work are ARC England’s annual Fee Rate Maps, which have developed into a significant longitudinal evidence base covering eight years of local authority fee rates for learning disability and autism services. Drawing on freedom of information data, the programme exposes geographical and service level variations in funding, while supporting providers with robust evidence to inform negotiations with their commissioners. Early analysis found that 94% of local authorities were paying rates insufficient to enable providers to pay the then National Living Wage.

Victoria has developed and strengthened strategic relationships with organisations including DHSC, CQC and Skills for Care, supporting ARC England to generate insight that can influence both national policy and frontline practice. This includes the development of the 2023 CEO Confidence Index, providing an important barometer of provider confidence and a clearer picture of the operational and financial pressures facing the sector.

She has also championed technology innovation and digital transformation. This has included establishing the ARC England Digital Network, creating a forum where providers can explore emerging ideas, products and systems, learn from expert speakers, and consider how technologies, including AI, can strengthen social care and enhance the everyday lives of people with learning disabilities.

She has also supported the development of Our Social Lives, a major co-produced peer research programme in conjunction with Learning Disability England and Paradigm. Conducted across England during 2024/25, the programme places the experiences and voices of people with learning disabilities at the heart of research, building a richer understanding of their lives, aspirations and the support that enables people to live well.

Most recently, in 2025, Victoria extended the fee rate programme into health commissioning data, uncovering a significant national intelligence gap with more than 80% of Integrated Care Boards being unable to state how much they spend on adult social care. This evidence has strengthened the case for greater transparency and accountability across integrated health and care commissioning.

Alongside these projects, Victoria has provided strategic continuity through two Director transitions, from Lisa Lenton to Clive Parry and subsequently Samantha Leonard, helping to maintain organisational stability, momentum and strong relationships with ARC England’s membership.

Overall, Victoria’s contribution has helped strengthen ARC England’s position as an evidence led and influential sector voice, transforming provider experience into credible longitudinal intelligence that exposes funding inequalities, challenges assumptions and strengthens the case for change across learning disability and autism social care.