The National Social Care Conference 2019 – organised by ADSS Cymru in partnership with Social Care Wales, focused this year on the theme of “What Matters to Me – Hearing the Citizen’s Voice”. Our annual event attracted wide engagement from local authorities who shared stories of positive outcomes for people across Wales in receipt of care and support.
We also heard from numerous informative and inspirational speakers across the two days of the conference who themselves had either been part of delivering positive outcomes – such as Professor Sir Sam Everington GP, a pioneer of social prescribing at the acclaimed Bromley-by-Bow practice; Isabelle Trowler, the UK Government’s Chief Social Worker for Children and Families; and Professor Ann John, a leading researcher in the prevention of suicide and self-harm from Swansea University – or had experienced their own positive outcomes – including cystic fibrosis warrior and fundraiser, Josh Llewelyn-Jones OBE, and Dr Kate Allett a shining example of defying expectations and overcoming extreme physical adversity.
The first day of the conference was divided into four seminars, which each focused on a key area - Children's Services, Adult Mental Health, the National Workforce Strategy, and the Healthier Wales Transformational Fund. Main plenary sessions were held the following day, and attendees also had the opportunity to network with key providers to the sector, with over 40 organisations showcasing their services and products including our main sponsor, Direct Nursing Services.
The content, atmosphere, learning and networking opportunities offered by the conference received much positive feedback, and ADSS Cymru will look to build on this with plans underway for next year’s March Spring Seminar, taking place in Cardiff Bay and the conference next September which will be held at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.
Both the Spring Seminar and the Conference are certainly highlights in the calendar for social care leaders as well as other key partners across social care and health, and the ADSS Cymru Business Unit are setting its sights on attracting more practitioners from the social work profession to benefit from next year’s events.
OUR MAIN PLENARY SESSIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO WATCH ON YOUTUBE. Click the videos below: