Accelerate programme
Preparing Leaders for Change
Find out how senior adult social care leaders from across the country have used Accelerate to deliver meaningful change, improve outcomes and develop their leadership skills.
Accelerate 2025 – Empowering social care leaders: learning from the eighth cohort
ADASS is committed to supporting our members with their professional development. Delivered in partnership with Newton, we are delighted to launch the tenth year of our Accelerate programme.
We have been delighted with the feedback we have received from the previous cohorts; and despite the significant challenges of the last years, Accelerate continues to be seen as an essential development programme for those leaders who are overseeing or managing complex change programmes.
Accelerate supports senior leaders (working at the director or assistant director level) to develop the leadership capabilities required to oversee, or manage teams to deliver complex transformational change.
The programme, which involves four short residential modules over a 10-month period, starts in March every year.
- Module 1 – 17-19 March 2027
- Module 2 – 9-10 June 2027
- Module 3 – 15-16 September 2027
- Module 4 – 17-18 November 2027
Interested in learning more about Accelerate? Explore our end-of-year reports to discover insights and experiences from past cohorts: 2025 report, 2024 report, 2023 report, 2022 report and 2021 report.
National drop-in sessions
Join us for a national drop-in with David McMullan, Newton and Sheila Norris, ADASS Accelerate Programme Lead to find out more about next year’s programme and what you need to know and do to apply. Please RSVP for a session below.
How to apply
Applications open on 13 October 2026 and close on 18 December 2026.
Accelerate 2027 Application Form – Complete here
Accelerate 2027 Application Form PDF – for reference only
Accelerate 2027 Recruitment Flyer – download