The National Children and Adults Services Conference (#NCASC23) returns to the Jurassic Coast and the Bournemouth International Conference Centre (BIC) this week (29 November – 1 December).
One of the biggest conferences in the social care calendar, it is a coming together of care sector partners, policy makers and organisations with responsibilities for children and adult services in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors. Helen Whately, Minister for Social Care, will be addressing conference on Thursday 20 November, 11am - 11.45am.
You can view the full programme online, but here are some highlights…
Come and meet Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults
Once again, Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults (CSW) at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will be attending to promote adult social work and engage in the big issues facing the profession and social care more generally.
She will be holding various meet and greet sessions at the DHSC stand in the exhibition hall throughout the conference. This will include opportunities to discuss the CSW/Principal Social Worker proportionate assessment guide.
On Wednesday, 12.10pm - 1.10pm, Lyn will be attending a session showcasing a collaborative model preparing young people and their families for adulthood, led by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council colleagues.
She will also be contributing to the Accelerating Reform Fund event on at the Bournemouth Highcliffe Marriott later that day from 4-6pm, then back to a Social Care Futures event in the Purbeck Bar of the BIC to discuss ways to generate public support for the transformation of social care.
Digitising Social Care
Tommy Henderson-Reay, Social Worker & Digital Engagement Programme Manager (NHSE):
“The Digitising Social Care Programme is really pleased to be a part of NCASC again this year. We continue to support local authorities across several areas.
Via digital leadership, system reform, care tech opportunities, funding the Partners in Care and Health programme. As well as on going funding to care providers, we continue to engage with councils, supporting their drive towards digitisation whilst keeping people at the heart of care.
We will be present at the DHSC stand throughout the conference and looking forward to connecting with you. Do come and say hello.”
Social care workforce reform
On Thursday, 30 December 9.30am – 10.30am, DHSC’s Gareth Young, Deputy Director, Adult Social Care Workforce, will be participating in ‘Adult social care: a career, not just a job’, focusing on the future of this complex and diverse profession. The session will be chaired by Oonagh Smyth, CEO of Skills for Care. Gareth says:
“I’m really looking forward to speaking at NCASC. This session really aligns with the reforms DHSC is currently working to deliver. I am new to the role and, to me, the reforms feel like the foundations for a wider set of changes we know the sector wants. These include:
- Building a single, common career pathway all care workers can use to develop their careers; a common baseline and framework for any future changes to the sector.
- A link from this to approved and validated training. This includes a new occupational level 2 qualification – which can become part of our wider approach to level 2, 3 and other qualifications beyond.
- A skills passport, portable across the workforce and adaptable according to need.
- A reimbursement platform allowing the government to support employers with some of the costs of staff training.
I believe these initiatives will build the foundations for change and reform in the sector and I’m looking forward to discussing how they will make careers in care more attractive, varied and long term propositions.
More than that, I am really looking forward to meeting people from across the sector. I used to work for a local authority but I am very aware I have plenty to learn about the sector – what better way to do so than spend a day at NCASC.”