‘Nottinghamshire is proud to be a part of it. I can recommend joining!’
Melanie Williams
ADASS President March 2025
Are you:
- working in a council and want to connect with others and with progressive support providers?
- working as part of a provider organisation and want to connect with others and with progressive councils?
- trying your best to help build a brighter Social Care Future when times are really tough?
Social Care Future Communities of Support are for you!
Three years ago, a group of Directors of Adult Social Care inspired by the Social Care Future vision asked if we would bring their colleagues together in a supportive community for inspiration, support, ideas, methods to help them plan and act locally. Over 45 councils have taken part so far, getting time and space in a supportive environment with others sharing the same challenges and aspirations.
A year later we developed a parallel community of support for people working in organisations that offer direct support to people, that we call The Big Connect. 17 organisations are now part of this community, supporting each other with the day to day realities of how to make the Social Care Future vision a reality for everyone.
How do they work?
The communities of support are set up for councils, provider organisations and local people to facilitate peer support and practical, themed assistance to help close the gap between where we are now and the social care future we want. They offer:
- Regular, on-line, opt-in sessions open to members from councils and provider organisations and local people
- Opportunities for peer support – where people can come to problem solve and explore practical solutions to common issues – without judgment but with support to focus
- Sharing ‘glimpses of the future’ and practical resources and things people have tried from around the country
- Opportunities to link to and influence the external forces shaping what we do – for example debating assurance issues with the Care Quality Commission Chief Inspector, helping shape national commissioner training, identifying the ‘Plumbing and Wiring’ issues inhibiting change to be negotiated with those responsible for them.
If you are interested contact Martin Routledge at socialcarefuture@gmail.com
See more about the Community of Support for councils HERE
See more about the Community of Support for providers organisations HERE
