Timetable

Date / Time

Session title

Introduction to the week's activities by Sarah Day, ADSS Cymru Business Unit

Head of the ADSS Cymru Business Unit, Sarah Day will give an overview of the week's events.

followed by...

Opening address by the President of ADSS Cymru, Jonathan Griffiths

President of ADSS Cymru will address the membership and give an update on the organisation's priorities going forward.

followed by... 
 

Tribute to Social Care Staff

A short video featuring a poem written by Rowenna Gane, a care worker from Monmouthshire in dedication to social care workers across Wales for their service and sacrifice throughout the Coronavirus pandemic.

WeCare Wales - Supporting and recognising the social care workforce

presented by Andrew Bell, Social Care Wales

While the pandemic has presented many difficult challenges, it has also proved to be a catalyst for new initiatives to give additional support and recognition to the social care workforce. Working with partners, Social Care Wales has been involved in an initiative to help local authorities recruit more people quickly into vacant roles, using the WeCare Wales attraction campaign and its enhanced jobs portal, and the Care Worker Card to recognise members of the workforce as key workers and provide them with benefits. This session will look at progress so far and cover plans for further development. 

Practising Positive Psychology Workshop

led by Ross Storr, Academi Wales

Positive psychology is a useful tool for us to maintain a good sense of mental wellbeing in everyday life, it becomes even more useful during times of uncertainty and adversity and can help us stay on the brighter side of things. Join Ross from Academi Wales for an interactive session as we run you through a number of simple exercises and ideas from the field of Positive Psychology. These can help you set a positive frame for the week ahead, focussing on the positives around you and protecting against feeling overwhelmed by the negatives.

BASW Cymru - Communities of Practice and their impact on social workers' well-being

presented by Meryl Williams, BASW Cymru Professional Officer

Meryl Williams shares an area of good practice that has been developed since the onset of the Covid pandemic, which has had a positive impact on social workers' wellbeing.

Good Practice from Across Wales

This session will showcase the innovative work taking place across adults' and children's services from all the regions in Wales.

Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) - Getting our workforce ready for the Autism Code of Practice

The Welsh Government statutory code of practice for autism comes into effect from September 2021.  The new duties place increased responsibilities on local authorities and health boards to better meet the needs of autistic people and their families.  The National Autism Team, together with autistic people and social care and health professionals, have been further developing free bespoke training, and resources to assist Social Services and Health in meeting this duty.  Training and resources are at the heart of the code and this work provides a strong framework on which to build.

Presented by Wendy Thomas,  National Professional Lead for Autism; Frances Rees, National Development Officer; Sioned Thomas, National Development Officer

Networking and discussion lunch (multiple simultaneous discussion sessions)

Registered attendees of the festival will be invited by email to register separately for these discussion sessions. The sessions taking place are as follows, and will include a short presentation followed by an opportunity to discuss these important topics.

Limited to 16 attendees per session.

• Climate Change in the context of delivering social care services

led by Andrea Street, Welsh Government

• Rebalancing Care and Support White Paper

Matt Jenkins will discuss the outcome of the consultation on the Rebalancing Care and Support White Paper.  In the context of the commitment by the Deputy Minister for Social Services to engage partners fully on next steps, Matt will discuss with ADSS Cymru colleagues the options open to Ministers including in the context of their manifesto commitments.

led by Matt Jenkins, Welsh Government

• Supporting the use of Welsh language in social care 

led by Fôn Roberts and Marian Hughes, ADSS Cymru

The session will explore the importance of using the language of people's choice in Wales in the delivery of social care, and draws on the journeys of others to learning Welsh and their experiences of using Welsh - to give inspiration to others.

This discussion will take place in the medium of Welsh, but learners and those thinking of learning are welcomed and encouraged to join this friendly and supportive chat. A simultaneous translator will be present to interpret.

• Continuing Health Care – Why changing the dialogue can lead to better outcomes.  

led by Jason Bennett, ADSS Cymru

This session will explore why a shift away from financial discussions, to conversations where we ensuring good governance and accountability, when meeting the care needs of people with complex needs, could improve people’s access NHS Continuing Health Care.  

• Digital Connect - a project with adults who have Learning Disabilities

Conwy Connect is a charity for people with a wide range of Learning Disabilities, based in Conwy, North Wales. In the past, we’ve provided face to face sessions, activities, events and connections within communities. At the end of March 2020, the staff at Conwy Connect, made a swift transition to online sessions for our members. Using technology in this way, highlighted a divide between people who are technically able to connect and those who are not. In this session we share

• How this experience raised our awareness of the great need for digital inclusion with people with Learning Disabilities
• The development and commencement of our Digital Connect Project in April 2021
• Our learning so far, and examples of good practice from our work

Led by Cath Thornton, Non Lederle & Michele Pipe, Conwy Connect

Albert Heaney, Chief Social Care Officer for Wales 

The newly-appointed Chief Social Care Officer for Wales will present on his role and what this means for social care.

The future of adult social care; a view from Scotland

Session with Derek Feeley, former Scottish Government Director General for Health and Social Care and Chief Executive of NHS Scotland

Chaired by Helen Howson, the Bevan Commission

In the session, Derek Feeley, Chair of Scotland’s Independent Review of Adult Social Care, will describe the aspirations of people who need social care support and outline his recommendations to improve social care in Scotland.

Wellbeing Session & Showcase - Dementia Actif Gwynedd (Welsh language with simultaneous translation)

led by Emma Quaeck, Rheolwr Dementia Actif Gwynedd Manager

Dementia Actif Gwynedd is an organisation that aims to give people affected by dementia the chance to be active, have fun and be part of a community group where everyone understands and support each other; by providing group physical activity opportunities in to enhance quality of life for people with dementia and their carers. This session will not only showcase the vital work of the organisation but also demonstrate activities we can all do to keep active.

14.30 - 15.00

**Sponsored Event**

Disabled Living Foundation - Reflections on person-centred advice about AT and its role in maximising independence

DLF’s webinar features two speakers sharing information and experiences about the AskSARA self-assessment programme. AskSARA is a free online tool, run by the charity DLF that provides impartial guided advice about aids and adaptations for independent living. Melanie Poyser, Partnerships Manager at DLF provides an update on the service including sharing statistics about the public's use of the tool and trends in topics and where it fits within the provision of person-centred information as set out in the Care and Wellbeing Act. Dawn Pridham, Service Manager, Adult & Community Services at Newport City Council presents her experiences as the lead for Newport’s AskSARA including insights from providing the service during the pandemic. For more information about the talks please contact DLF on 0300 123 3084 or enquries@dlf.org.uk

The importance of the Welsh language in achieving What Matters For People

Introduced by Morwena Edwards, Lead Director for Welsh language matters, ADSS Cymru and Director of Social Services, Gwynedd

Professor Jerry Hunter - Inspiring the use of Welsh language (simultaneous translation)

Prof Hunter discusses how he came to be a fluent Welsh speaker and Professor at the School of Welsh and Celtic Studies, Bangor Univesity, from his origin in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prof Hunter explores the benefits of learning another language and supporting people through their language of choice.
 

Stephen Wood - Inspiring the use of the Welsh language (simultaneous translation)

Stephen Wood is Service Manager for Youth Justice across Gwynedd and Ynys Mon. Originally from Scotland, Stephen discusses his own experience of learning Welsh, the support he's been given as a learner, and the benefits of learning Welsh.

IMPACT: Evaluation of the Implementation of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 

presented by Professor Mark Llewellyn, Welsh Institute of Health and Social Care (WIHSC)

Prof Llewellyn presents an overview of the project, being undertaken on behalf of Welsh Government by colleagues from the Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care, University of South Wales in partnership with academics from Swansea, Cardiff and Bangor Universities. The session will look at how the leadership of social care can contribute to the study.

Social Care Wales and ADSS Cymru Workforce Leadership Group

The session will focus on the latest progress towards developing and implementing the social care workforce strategy, and more, led by Social Care Wales in partnership with the ADSS Cymru Workforce Leadership Group.

• Workforce Strategy update (presented by Jon Day)
• SCWWDP review update (presented by Jon Day)
• Social Care Wales's response to workforce wellbeing (presented by Jon Day and Rebecca Cicero)

Networking and discussion lunch (multiple simultaneous discussion sessions)

Registered attendees of the festival will be invited by email to register separately for these discussion sessions. The sessions taking place are as follows, and will include a short presentation followed by an opportunity to discuss these important topics.

Limited to 16 attendees per session.

• Remodelling accomodation, care and support for children, reducing the need for out of area, independent sector placements

led by Claire Marchant, ADSS Cymru

This discussion session will focus on remodelling accomodation, care and support for children, reducing the need for out of area, independent sector placements – with the example of children’s services in Bridgend. Corporate Director of Social Services and Wellbeing at Bridgend CBC, Claire Marchant and colleagues provide a brief 10-15 minute presentation on the journey here and then facilitate a discussion on the learning for other LAs and RPBs in taking forward their strategies in this area.

• The future of social care data in Wales – a strategic approach

led by Lisa Trigg, Social Care Wales

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of good data to inform the decisions we take in social care, as well as exposing crucial gaps. Learning from the past year has helped the development of a data strategy for social care in Wales, and the publication of a Statement of Strategic Intent for Social Care Data in Wales in March 2021. This session will  give a brief presentation on what’s happened so far with the data strategy and the approach to co-producing a roadmap and implementation plan to deliver the strategy, followed by a discussion on the future of data.

• How we progress digital innovations post-pandemic

There have been many positive developments in the use of technology since the onset of the pandemic. This discussion will focus on how digital innovation that has supported the delivery of services can continue to be progressed where it is appropriate and beneficial to people who receive care and support but ensuring that it fully incorporates Welsh language provision.

led by Craig McLeod, ADSS Cymru

• Help shape the workforce of the future – share your thoughts and ideas

  We are all seeing the workplace and workforce of the future take shape, with changing roles, relationships and demands.  What will the future look like, and what does it mean for the health and social care workforce?

  This session will focus on how we can help shape and influence the workforce of the future. We will share the purpose of the newly established ADSS Cymru Workforce Leadership Group, and will provide you with an overview of the developing priorities and how we can collectively influence change at a national level with a number of our strategic partners.  Attendees will have the opportunity to feed back on topics including the seven themes of the Workforce Strategy, social care profession and the SCDWWP Review.

led by Joanne Llewelyn, Jane Davies and Glenda George, ADSS Cymru

Trevor Palmer, Newport-based entrepreneur and Disability Wales board member with lived experience of receiving care and support

Trevor will give his thoughts and experience of receiving care and support services during the Covid pandemic.

Pembrokeshire Catalysts for Care

Catalysts for Care is a partnership made up of the Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS), PLANED, Pembrokeshire Council and Community Catalysts. The project supports people to set up small local businesses to deliver care and support in the community. 

Heléna Herklots CBE, the Older People's Commissioner for Wales

Heléna Herklots will reflect on older people’s experiences during the pandemic and share the work that is underway to stop the abuse of older people, tackle ageism, and strengthen the rights of older people living in care homes.  She will look ahead to how we can ensure an age-friendly recovery from the pandemic and the vital importance of investing in social care.

All Wales Adults' Services Heads (AWASH)

This session will present different viewpoints on the future provision of care and support services - looking at how a shift away from traditional services to bespoke packages is now in greater demand than ever to meet the needs of individuals and their carers, balanced with the need to maintain traditional services to keep the sector alive, funded properly and able to be flexible.

A panel discussion will take place, chaired by the Chair of AWASH, Claire Higgins, and including Stuart Nixon of the MS Society and Marie Nixon, Maria Bell from the National Commissioning Board, and Mary Wimbury from Care Forum Wales.

Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services 

followed by 

Julie Morgan MS, Deputy Minister for Social Services

The Minister and Deputy Minister will address the festival, to discuss the Welsh Government priorities for social care.

followed by

Professor Sally Holland, the Children's Commissioner for Wales

All Wales Heads of Children's Services (AWHOCS)

lead by the Chair of AWHOCS, Annabel Lloyd. Heads of Children’s Services look forward to outlining their ambition for excellent children’s services in Wales as they introduce their position statement. A brief presentation will be followed by a Question and Answer Panel including:

• Annabel LLoyd, Chair of AWHOCS, ADSS Cymru
• Jan Coles, Deputy Chair of AWHOCS, ADSS Cymru
• Alistair Davey, Enabling People Director, Welsh Government Social Services and Integration Directorate
• Cathryn Thomas, Assistant Director Improvement, Social Care Wales

Launch of Maethu Cymru / Foster Wales

The Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan MS will launch the Maethu Cymru / Foster Wales nationwide initiative, introduced by the ADSS Cymru lead Head of Service for this work, Tanya Evans.

Care Inspectorate Wales

Welsh NHS Confederation - Whole system partnerships for better outcomes

In response to the pandemic, the NHS and Local Authorities worked at pace to transform services and deliver care in vastly different ways – often enabled by partnership working and with a different risk appetite to provide the best care for citizens. In this Welsh NHS Confederation session, Carol Shillabeer, Chief Executive, Powys Teaching Health Board and Co-Chair National Commissioning Board, discusses why the time is right for health and social care to drive change with greater clarity about how we can be more agile and patient focussed in delivery when supported by effective partnerships and the integrated services.

Community Music Wales 

The interactive workshop will share exercises for developing creative writing as a help to wellbeing. The sessions will look at how to generate individual and group voices through collective expression.

Thanks and close by the President of ADSS Cymru, Jonathan Griffiths.