News & campaigns
Blog
The future for employed unpaid carers – what are the next steps?
Beverley Tarka, former President of ADASS and current DASS in Haringey, reflects on the Carers UK campaign for a statutory right to paid Carer’s leave and how this could provide the vital support they need.
24 September 2024
Blog
Celebrating the Essential Work of our Social Care Workforce
In celebration of Professional Care Workers' Week 2024, we caught up with Carolyn Nice, Director of Adults, Health and Wellbeing at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council as she discusses how she got into social care work, the importance of the Skills for Care Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care in England and how she thinks the work of social workers and carers can be valued.
19 September 2024
Blog
Hope, Challenge and Change in Adult Social Care
ADASS President Melanie Williams reflects on the relationship between social care and the NHS at the King's Fund Annual Conference 2024.
16 September 2024
Blog
Lord Darzi’s NHS report provides hope for social care
Jess McGregor, Director of Adult Social Services at Camden Council and Vice President of ADASS, shares her thoughts following Lord Darzi's NHS report.
12 September 2024
Statements
ADASS Responds to Lord Darzi’s Report
In response to Lord Darzi’s report, Melanie Williams, President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services said: “We support Lord Darzi’s recommendation to shift focus and funding from hospitals, towards community and mental health services. “But social care must be at the heart of any plans to create a ‘neighbourhood NHS’, otherwise we’re […]
12 September 2024
Statements
ADASS/BASW Joint Statement: The role of the DASS and social workers in disaster recovery
ADASS and BASW England are committed to highlighting the integral role of system leaders and social workers as key workers during disaster and emergency response and recovery.
19 August 2024
Statements
Statement of Understanding: Planned Returns to the UK in Cases Involving Vulnerable Adults
This statement of understanding updates and replaces an understanding agreed between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) in 2019.
15 August 2024
Blog
Boosting digital skills and confidence in adult social care: a critical need for the future
Opinion piece by Alyson Scurfield, CEO of TSA, the national advisory body for technology enabled care (TEC), looks at the barriers Directors of Adult Social Services face to make digital technology mainstream in social care.
5 August 2024
Statements
ADASS responds to the Government scrapping adult social care charging reforms
Our response to the Government's announcement that it will not proceed with adult social care charging reforms.
30 July 2024
Statements
ADASS responds to Skills for Care’s ‘Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care in England’
Our response to the launch of Skills for Care's new Social Care Workforce Strategy
23 July 2024
Statements
ADASS responds to ‘Missing Millions: Exploring hidden and unmet social care need for disabled people’
Our response to a new report by Healthwatch England focusing on hidden demand for social care.
23 July 2024
Blog
Optimism for a time to act from a survey of risk and gloom
Our President, Melanie Williams, shares her thoughts following the launch of this year's annual survey of Directors of Adult Social Services.
22 July 2024
Blog
Valuing our social care workforce – on the brink of action?
Our President, Melanie Williams, shares her thoughts on the importance of the new adult social care workforce strategy and what it means for those working in and drawing on care and support.
18 July 2024
Blog
Metrics of misery..and a message of hope?
Opinion piece by Richard Humphries, ADASS Associate Trustee, following the launch of the ADASS Spring Survey 2024
16 July 2024
Press Releases / Statements
ADASS welcomes new Government
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) congratulates the Labour Party for their victory in the General Election. Anna Hemmings, ADASS CEO, said: “We look forward to the opportunity to work with Keir Starmer and his team to improve social care and ensure it enables people to live their best lives. “We […]
5 July 2024
Blog
Co-production: the European perspective
As National Co-Production Week 2024 gets underway, it was also the focus for the European Social Services Conference, writes David Brindle The annual European Social Services Conference is always a great opportunity to take stock of how the English and other UK care systems are performing compared to others. This year’s focus was co-production – […]
2 July 2024
Press Releases / Statements
ADASS statement on MPs’ report on making joined-up health and care services work
In response to a new report today into new partnerships aimed at delivering joined-up health and care services, ADASS President Helen McClinton highlights the great potential of Integrated Care Systems, but warns the Government must invest in the social care system to allow them to function effectively. The House of Commons Health and Social Care […]
30 June 2024
Blog
Day one from ADASS Spring Seminar 2023: Roadmap for reform
The ADASS Spring Seminar 2023 started with the Association’s Annual General Meeting a policy discussion for social care leaders attending the event. ADASS members policy discussion In a private policy discussion ADASS members heard from Sally Warren (Director of Policy, The King’s Fund) and Andrew Harrop (General Secretary, The Fabian Society) about the impact the […]
30 June 2024
Press Releases / Statements
The Cost of Care is far above the funding available
The government has required councils to undertake a ‘Cost of Care’ exercise with their local care providers and to publish the results on the 1st February 2023. Sarah McClinton, ADASS President said: “The Cost of Care exercises have been challenging and time consuming for councils and for those providers that responded. However, they have been […]
30 June 2024
Blog
Day two from ADASS Spring Seminar 2023: New President’s speech
New ADASS President, Beverley Tarka, opened the second day of Spring Seminar with a powerful speech about her experience as a carer and the work she’s been doing in Haringey for more than thirty years to improve care and support for people in her community. She outlined her priorities as President in 2023/24 including a […]
30 June 2024
Press Releases / Statements
Additional Funding for Workforce Recruitment
In response to the announcement of additional funding for the workforce recruitment and retention fund, Stephen Chandler, ADASS President said: “The announcement of additional emergency workforce funding at the end of last week is welcome as short-term relief. However, it is a small proportion of what was identified as needed to prevent the collapse of […]
30 June 2024
Blog
Springing into the Spring Seminar 2023: An Access Review
ADASS Sponsored Content June 2023 At the Access Group we were thrilled to be in attendance at the Spring Seminar again this year. It was great to be a part of so many discussions about the value data can have to increase visibility across the care market. Through sharing our experiences with other like-minded professionals, […]
30 June 2024
Press Releases / Statements
ADASS Responds to Social Care White Paper
Publication of the social care white paper has been welcomed by care leaders as a “foundation stone” upon which to build modern care and support choices for older and disabled people and all those at risk of social exclusion. The white paper, People at the Heart of Care, should be seen as a first but […]
30 June 2024
Blog
Diary of a CQC assessment: Stage one – volunteering
I wanted to write about the experience of CQC assessment in Lincolnshire before the CQC reported their findings, which will not be for at least several more weeks. I’ve found writing has helped me reflect on the experience and understand rather better – hoovering the house or mowing the lawn has the same effect! I […]
30 June 2024