Becoming an ADASS Associate: Mentorship and staying connected to adult social care 

Helen Jones explores how being an ADASS Associate helps her stay connected to the adult social care sector, reflects on the rewards of mentoring through the ADASS Associates programme, and encourages fellow Associates to become mentors to share their wisdom as former Directors of Adult Social Services. 

Having been a DASS in two local authorities, with some regional and national involvement in ADASS during that time, becoming an ADASS Associate was a natural next step when I moved on to other things. 

Whilst I was ready to leave full-time work and embrace a more balanced portfolio career, I wasn’t prepared to step away from adult social care altogether. My passion for improving care and support remained strong, and I couldn’t imagine saying goodbye to all the wonderful colleagues I’d worked alongside over the years; becoming an ADASS associate gave me the perfect opportunity to stay connected. When I embarked on setting up my own business and began generating my own income, it was reassuring to know there were others in the Associates network willing to share advice and lend their support. 

My favourite aspect of being an Associate is offering mentoring through the voluntary ADASS Associates programme. Over the past three years, I’ve worked with three individuals, and each experience has been deeply rewarding. It’s a wonderful reminder of the value we continue to bring, even in retirement. Witnessing colleagues navigate increasingly complex roles and seeing them leave our sessions with renewed confidence and practical solutions, is truly heart-warming 

As a mentor on the Associate programme, I support mentees by providing a trusted space to reflect, build confidence and explore challenges and opportunities in their leadership journey. It is incredibly rewarding to see mentees grow in confidence, develop new perspectives and achieve their goals. I would encourage any Associate thinking about becoming a mentor to get involved.  

The commitment is by negotiation, and the opportunity to support the development of future leaders while learning from your mentee’s experiences makes it a valuable and enriching experience for both mentor and mentee. 

 I was also fortunate to be appointed to a role with ADASS, advertised through the network, supporting the Accelerate programme for up to six days a year. It is a programme for those working at the director or assistant director level in adult social care and delivered in partnership with Newton. While this work is paid, I’ve also contributed some voluntary time, which has provided another brilliant opportunity to give back. Meeting inspiring leaders through the programme and witnessing their energy, passion, and growth has been uplifting. 

As my portfolio career evolved, increasing work commitments prevented me from attending Associate Meetings, even though the dates and times were varied to accommodate as many members as possible. Nevertheless, the regular flow of meeting minutes and ADASS’ weekly e-news bulletin has ensured I stay informed and feel part of the community, no matter how busy life gets. 

This connection has been invaluable, especially as I established myself as a coach/mentor within the sector. Many clients choose me for my social care background, noting that while coaching doesn’t require sector-specific knowledge, it’s a real asset in mentoring.  

The feedback I receive confirms that people appreciate not having to explain the intricacies of their work, they know I understand and that I’m up to date with current developments. Being invited to lead a workshop focussed on coaching at ADASS’ annual Spring Seminar in 2025 was a wonderful opportunity to offer a small coaching experience to colleagues with a focus on our own well-being as leaders.  

ADASS is, after all, a charity dedicated to the work I’ve committed most of my professional life to. Being an Associate feels like a natural extension of that commitment, ensuring that my contribution – however small – continues even as my working life changes.