ADASS

Adult social care has been under intense financial strain for as long as I can remember.’ @jamesbullion.bsky.social discusses local government’s leadership role in reforming ASC and
@local.gov.uk's new conversation series – ‘Care where we live’.
Read his blog: www.adass.org.uk/care-where-we-live/

‘Peterborough City Council’s ASC team’s digital transformation aims to empower communities, streamline services and support staff and residents’. Tina Hornsby shares how this is improving outcomes for social care practitioners and people.
adass.org.uk/peterborough...

Introducing Rashpal Bishop, ADASS’ incoming Vice President in 2026  - ADASS Rashpal Bishop is due to take up the post of ADASS Vice President and Trustee in 2026. In her first blog for the Association, she introduces herself and tells us a bit about her dual passion for digit...

When you start something new, there is excitement but that churning that you hope you can do the job well'. Rashpal Bishop looks ahead to stepping into the role as ADASS Vice President in 2026. Read her blog:
www.adass.org.uk/introducing-rashpal-bishop-adass-incoming-vice-president-in-2026

Nnena Kalu wins the Turner Prize 2025 in ‘seismic’ moment for award The Glasgow-born, learning-disabled artist joins a prestigious list of recipients including Damien Hirst, Steve McQueen and Grayson Perry

Congratulations to Nnena Kalu on winning the #Turnerprize as the first learning-disabled artist to win it, inspiring others and ensuring that people with a learning disability are 'seen, heard, included and valued in all aspects of life'.
www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/

Reframing the conversation: Reflections on a year of narrative change training - ADASS Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of delivering our How to Talk About Social Care training to ADASS members across England, writes ADASS Engagement Officer Phoebe Kerr. This work is funded th...

“Public conversations on adult social care tend to default to crisis, cost and individual tragedy.” Phoebe Kerr reflects on delivering comms training to our members on how we can talk about social care. Read her blog:
www.adass.org.uk/a-year-of-narrative-change-training

We can all agree social care is complex. But does that help? - ADASS Professor Catherine Needham, Professor of Public Policy and Public Management at the University of Birmingham and Associate Director of SSCR, reflects on the complexity of social care and why it must ...

“Some key elements of social care, remain unsettled and contested and we see national reform initiatives get shelved one after another.” @catherineneedham.bsky.social reflects on why social care must be approached as an interconnected ecosystem. Read her blog: adass.org.uk/we-can-all-a...

ADASS Vice President, Phil Holmes, explores what a National Neighbourhood Health Service could mean for people, communities and social care. Great to see Jacqui from our #CareCantWait campaign taking part in the panel as well.

#ncasc25

It’s Abbie and her PA Dani from our #CareCantWait campaign!

Great lunchtime session at #ncasc25 on how Wiltshire Council and Pioneers from Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living are working together to improve adult social care.

We were joined this afternoon at #ncasc25 by Minister for Care @skinnock.bsky.social for an important discussion on the future of social care.

On the risk of neighbourhood health being dominated by the NHS, he said: “Social care must stand alongside health, not behind it or underneath it.

#ncasc25 day 2!

What does a Fair Pay Agreement mean for adult social care? Panellists include Tandra Forster, Chair of the ADASS National Commissioning Network and @clentonf.bsky.social.

#FairPayAgreement #Workforce #adultsocialcare

@mel-williams.bsky.social and Sarah McClinton, both past Presidents of ADASS, join @impower.bsky.social
for a session on how councils can replace siloed services with a more inclusive, lifelong approach to supporting young people into adulthood.

#ncasc25

“I tell my story so that future generations don’t have to go through the box ticking I did, to be able to get the care I need.”

Powerful words from Freya who shared her story as part of our Care Can’t Wait campaign.

Read her story: www.adass.org.uk/campaign_art...

#ncasc25 #reframingsocialcare

@blimeysimon.bsky.social sets the context for the session using @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social polling to show that, unprompted, most people don’t see adult social care as a high priority for the public. He says we need to do more to get people’s attention first and foremost.

#ncasc25

ADASS President Jess McGregor is joined by @blimeysimon.bsky.social , @clentonf.bsky.social, and Freya Viles from Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living for a session on reframing social care and why stories matter. #ncasc25

“To love is to act — not in grand gestures, but in the everyday humanity that keeps people steady and lets whole-life care become real.”

#ncasc25

“Too many people don’t recognise themselves in the story of care. If people can’t see themselves, they can’t access the support they’re entitled to.”

#ncasc25

ADASS President, Jess McGregor, opens #ncasc25 this morning.

“Care doesn’t begin at 18 & end at 65. It runs through whole lives — shaping families, identities & futures. Our systems must start behaving as though that’s true.”

An obvious talking point for the annual gathering of the #socialcare clans this week - but ahead of tomorrow’s Budget is anyone at HM Treasury listening? #ncasc2025

Adult social care faces £600m overspend - ADASS - Community Care Councils having to balance financial sustainability with doing the right thing for those who need adult social care, says ADASS president

“The underfunding of adult social care is forcing councils to make impossible choices, trying to balance financial sustainability with doing the right thing for those relying on us." ADASS President, @jessmcp.bsky.social responds to our Autumn Survey report.
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/11/25/a...

Ahead of the Budget, ADASS is urging the Treasury to invest in adult social care, including support for young adults & the workforce, or risk further deterioration of care to the detriment of people’s health and wellbeing.

Read the report: adass.org.uk/documents/ad...

As more people require adult social care, & as needs become more complex, Directors are projecting an overspend of £623mn this year. This will affect how much care people can receive & how quickly they can access it.

Read the report: adass.org.uk/documents/ad...

Our latest survey of Directors of adult social services, published today, shows that high-cost social care for young adults has risen by almost a third in the past year.

Read the report: adass.org.uk/documents/ad...

#AutumnSurvey2025 #AutumnBudget2025 #NCASC2025

Strengthening support for unpaid carers: practical guidance for adult social services - ADASS To mark Carers Rights Day 2025, this blog brings together a set of key resources designed to help Directors of adult social services, local authorities, and partner organisations strengthen support fo...

This #CarersRightsDay, we're sharing practical guidance to help local authorities strengthen support for unpaid carers in our new blog bringing together key resources from ADASS & the LGA.👇
www.adass.org.uk/strengthenin...

Red and white graphic featuring a megaphone on the left emitting text: "Carers Rights Day." On the right, two overlapping speech bubbles read, "Know Your Rights" and "Use Your Rights."

Today is #CarersRightsDay and we want all unpaid carers to know and use their rights

These can help you:
▪️ Access support
▪️ Juggle care and work
▪️ Look after your health and wellbeing
▪️ When the person you care for is coming out of hospital

https://go.carersuk.org/CRD

What I took from a Casey Commission evidence session — and why people must be at the heart of reform - ADASS Jess McGregor, ADASS President and Director of Adult Social Care at Camden Council, reflects on an early roundtable for Baroness Louise Casey’s Independent Commission on Adult Social Care.

ADASS President, @jessmcp.bsky.social shares insights from a Casey Commission evidence session she took part in. Read her blog: www.adass.org.uk/what-i-took-from-a-casey-commission-evidence-session-and-why-people-must-be-at-the-heart-of-reform/

It’s #SafeguardingWeek. Our new blog & audio clips explain why we need a new, clearer approach to safeguarding liberty. Our experts explain why DoLS is changing and what the recent Supreme Court case could mean for us all: www.adass.org.uk/from-depriva...

Hear from national leaders and sector experts including ADASS President, @jessmcp.bsky.social and people who draw on care and support at #ncasc25 as they share insight, innovation and inspiration across children’s and adult social care. Book today: ncasc.info/about/

A community OT shares how social prescribing can transform lives - ADASS To celebrate Occupational Therapy Week 2025, William Dyett, an occupational therapy apprentice, looks at the role of social prescribing and why occupational therapists can make the case for prevention...

🗣️“In my role as an OT Apprentice, I’ve seen how social prescribing can unlock potential and restore hope in the community.” William Dyett, looks at the role of social prescribing. Read his blog: www.adass.org.uk/a-community-ot-shares-how-social-prescribing-can-transform-lives/
#OTWeek25

Charging people for care generating more and more income for councils - Community Care English authorities raised almost £5bn raised from client contributions in 2024-25, up 14% on the year before

“Councils are in an invidious position with insufficient funding to fully meet the needs of people drawing on care and support with limited ways to raise funds to close budgetary gaps.”
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/11/05/hike-in-council-income-from-charging-people-for-care-revealed-by-government

“We’ve always cared”: black women’s experiences in the care sector - ADASS Every October, Black History Month in the UK invites us to reflect on the contributions, struggles, and triumphs of Black communities. For Black women in the care sector, this month is more than a cel...

"Black women have been the unsung heroes of caregiving". Georgia Chimbani, Corporate Director of Health & Adult Social Care @towerhamletsnow.bsky.social discusses their experiences in social care. Read her blog. www.adass.org.uk/weve-always-cared-black-womens-experiences-in-the-care-sector/