Blog
Blog
Shaping the future through leadership, innovation and workforce development
Occupational therapists are leading change, embracing innovation and building partnerships that will shape services for years to come. Our new workforce network OT Co-Leads, Carys Connolly and Meg Browning share their insights on value the profession’s role in shaping the future of adult social care and the importance of ensuring we develop a strong workforce.
5 November 2026
Blog
Winter planning starts in people’s homes, not hospital corridors
With the NHS Winter Plan 2026/27 published, ADASS Care and Health Co-Leads set out why focussing only on hospital capacity during the winter misses the opportunities to support people to remain well and independent at home.
29 October 2026
Blog
Building a more inclusive picture of family and friend carers to improve support
The Centre for Care at Birmingham University is piloting a new national survey of family and friend carers in England. It has been working with family and friend carers, as well as sector stakeholders including Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) to co-design the refreshed survey. Fi Flowers, TLAP, reflects why surveys should be co-designed alongside […]
22 October 2026
Blog
The Future of Social Work: A Profession of Hope
By Chris Erskine, Principal Social Worker at Lincolnshire County Council and Vice Co-Chair of the PSW Network I have to admit, being asked to write this blog made me pause. It felt like both a privilege and a responsibility, because the future of social work is not an abstract question for me. It is something […]
19 October 2026
Blog
A National Care Service must be built around people and places, not institutions
This contribution is written from the perspective of Wigan, a place whose adult social care services are widely recognised as among the strongest in England. That recognition does not imply perfection. Like every area, we continue to face significant challenges, increasing complexity of need and financial constraints. There remains much to improve and much to […]
13 October 2026
Blog
Fairness is good care: why equality and equity matter in adult social care
ADASS President Phil Holmes reflects on a recent webinar which concluded equity is not a ‘nice to have’ or political debate, but a legal duty and fundamental to delivering good adult social care. ADASS, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) recently came together for a webinar to explore […]
25 September 2026
Blog
Winds of change: how should NHS Continuing Healthcare feature in social care reform?
Rachel Hutchings, Fellow at Nuffield Trust, discusses why NHS Continuing Healthcare must be a government priority as part of wider conversations on social care reform.
26 August 2026
Blog
A career in care: creating opportunities for the next generation
As young people receive their GCSE results and consider what comes next, there is a renewed national debate about the routes we offer them into rewarding work. Adult social care should be part of that conversation.
20 August 2026
Blog
Soup or salad? It’s time to rethink health and care integration
For decades, the debate about integration has focused on structures, systems and services. Former ADASS President, Jess McGregor, argues that we need to turn the question around – starting with the life someone wants to lead and asking how health, care and communities can help. For decades, the debate about integration has focused on structures, […]
18 August 2026
Blog
How ‘Big Chats’ bring co-production to life across children’s and adult social care
Some of the most powerful conversations at the National Children’s and Adults Social Care Conference (NCASC) don’t happen on the main stage, they happen in the ‘Big Chats’. Led by people with lived experience of care and support, these lively sessions aim to create a welcoming space to explore the issues that matter most to people and communities. The Big […]
11 August 2026