Author Archives: Isla Thompson

Steve Crocker, an ADASS Research Committee member, explores different research approaches in adult social care.

Freshly retired, Mel Lock reflects on the people, partnerships and principles that shaped her career - from championing lived experience and rural communities to navigating funding pressures and reform. As she steps away from full-time leadership, she shares the lessons, humour and humanity that have kept her committed to ensuring people live lives shaped by choice, dignity and connection, not services.

Professor Oonagh Smyth CBE and Sir David Pearson, share insights from the position statement on adult social care’s contribution to the Neighbourhood Health Service from the Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care in England’s Oversight Executive Group; highlighting the actions required to enable adult social care and its workforce to play a full role in the Neighbourhood Health Service and where they are working successfully in neighbourhoods.

ADASS President Phil Holmes stresses that social justice must sit at the heart of adult social care. In a time of rising division and prejudice, he calls for leadership that moves beyond words and into meaningful action. 

We’re delighted a new independent expert panel will investigate the important issue of young people transitioning from childhood to adulthood, and those needing care and support moving from children’s to adults’ services in our local authorities. Our members tell us young people don’t always get the support they need and have called for more focus […]

Our response to the Government's announcement on local government reorganisation.

Neil Revely makes the case that supported housing is not a peripheral concern for adult social care but the foundation upon which good care depends. Without stable, appropriate housing, effective adult social care simply cannot be delivered. He sets out the key policy actions needed to put supported housing where it belongs: at the heart of policy, planning and investment decisions.

Bradford Council’s Adults with Disabilities Team share insights on their Promote the Vote campaign which sees social workers support care homes and supported living providers with guidance to ensure that adults with learning disabilities understand their right to vote in local or national elections and are supported with the process. 

Our response to today’s speech by Dame Louise Casey at the Nuffield Trust Summit 2026.

Richard Webb looks back over his role as DASS as he prepares to step into the role of Chief Executive with a local authority.