News & campaigns
Statements
ADASS responds to expansion of community mental health support across England
In response to the Government’s announcement of a major expansion of community mental health support across England, Phil Holmes, ADASS President, said: ADASS welcomes this news; we are pleased that Government recognises the vital need for investment in mental health support to improve the quality of life, prospects and length of life of people experiencing […]
6 August 2026
Blog
This time we are going to do it!
By Richard Humphries and Bernie Enright For decades, successive governments have promised reform of adult social care. Reviews have been commissioned, reports have been written and solutions have been proposed. Yet meaningful, lasting change has remained out of reach… until now. What we’ve got at the moment is a sense of hope that real change […]
4 August 2026
Learning from Safeguarding Adults Reviews: How can they have national impact?
Adi Cooper and Professor Michael Preston-Shoot provide an update on recent developments concerning how issues from Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs) can be escalated nationally. Recently there has been some significant progress following a review by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the National Network for SAB Chairs of whether the safeguarding escalation […]
4 August 2026
Statements
ADASS responds to Andy Burnham’s speech on social care reform
In response to Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s announcement today on adult social care reform, Phil Holmes, ADASS President, said: “After decades in which adult social care has been left unresolved by successive governments, the Prime Minister’s willingness to face this difficult but necessary work head on is the leadership the sector has been asking for. […]
29 July 2026
Blog
Why the future of social care depends on relationships and community strength
Stuart Cowley, Director of Adult Social Care and Health at Wigan Council, explores why the future of adult social care reform depends on empowering communities, neighbourhoods and local systems to shape solutions that reflect local needs, rather than pursuing a single national model. He shares Wigan Council's relational approach to reform, showing how collaboration and strong relationships can create lasting change and improve outcomes for people and communities.
20 July 2026
Statements
ADASS responds to the LGR announcement
In response to the announcement on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), Phil Holmes, ADASS President, said: “We are pleased that the Government has responded to our significant concerns about the risks of Local Government Reorganisation to the capacity to support transition and the leadership pipeline for adult social care. Although we welcome the opportunities offered by […]
16 July 2026
Statements
ADASS responds to Fair Pay Agreement announcement
In response to the Government’s Fair Pay Agreement announcement, Phil Holmes, President of ADASS, said: “ADASS supports the Government’s ambition for a Fair Pay Agreement (FPA). We believe that adult social care staff are highly skilled and welcome this opportunity to strengthen and retain the workforce, recognising those who provide care and support, via fairer […]
16 July 2026
Press Releases
ADASS Spring Survey: Rising adult social care needs leave councils £715 million over budget
Our latest Spring Survey finds that rising adult social care needs leave councils £715 million over budget.
15 July 2026
Blog
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.
14 July 2026
Blog
Less abstract, more actionable: why place now sits at the heart of our social care data catalogue
This blog from the Catalogue of Social Care Data (CASCID) team, by Edmund Stubbs, Raphael Wittenberg and Derek King, explores how a new place-based approach is helping turn social care data into practical insights for local decision-making. It highlights why understanding communities and local context is essential to tackling inequalities, planning services and improving outcomes […]
7 July 2026
Blog
How we co-produced our ‘care closer to home’ policy
ADASS Senior Policy Officer Paul Buddery and experts share their reflections on co-producing our Care Closer to Home policy statement and the importance of the question, ‘so, what next?’.
6 July 2026
Blog
How co-production can drive real change in care equity
David Cole lives in Dorset and draws on adult social care. He is a Quality Assurance Lived Experience Adviser at the council and shares his reflections for Co-production Week’s 2026 theme ‘Care Equity’.
3 July 2026
Blog
Research as an added extra? Why every social care organisation needs a research culture
Dr Laura Tucker explores why establishing a culture of research empowers staff, strengthens practice and improves outcomes for people who draw on care and support. She shares best practice for supporting research across adult social care organisations.
24 June 2026
Safeguarding adults: A renewed national focus
Adult safeguarding is some of the most complex and important work in social care, yet it often goes unseen. Melanie Williams, Executive Director of Adults and Wellbeing at West Northamptonshire Council and former ADASS President, explores how new national reforms could strengthen safeguarding practice, improve accountability and ensure people with lived experience remain at the centre of decision-making.
22 June 2026
Statements
Update note from ADASS following the Supreme Court decision on deprivation of liberty on 2 June, 2026
ADASS previously advised Councils to take a cautious approach to developing operational materials and approaches to reviewing and processing cases in the immediate wake of the Supreme Court decision. This note builds on that, following guidance issued by DHSC on 15 June, 2026. The judgement in the Supreme Court, known as AGNI, became the test for a deprivation of liberty immediately after it was handed down. There is […]
18 June 2026
Blog
Loneliness is everyone’s business – and adult social care has a vital role to play
Drawing on insights from his President’s Day and discussions with parliamentarians and partners, ADASS President Phil Holmes argues that tackling loneliness is one of the defining challenges of our time and should be a central goal of adult social care reform. Last week I chaired an event about Adult Social Care’s role in tackling loneliness […]
18 June 2026
Press Releases
Loneliness roadshow arrives in Doncaster, to mark the new ADASS presidency of Phil Holmes
A loneliness ‘roadshow’ event is taking place at the EcoPower Stadium at Doncaster Rovers Football Ground, on Thursday 11 June. Adult social care leaders, charities, academics and civil servants from across the country will join with Doncaster residents to take part in an interactive day designed to tackle loneliness including debates, workshops and talks – including from a social care companion robot. The event is being run by the Campaign to End Loneliness – hosted by Sheffield […]
11 June 2026
Blog
Understanding and addressing barriers to sharing of high-level data on unpaid carers between system partners
Jude Boyle from Derbyshire County Council and Michael Rose from Derby City Council share insights project in Derbyshire examining the barriers to sharing high-level carer data across the local care and health system.
11 June 2026
Blog
How community equipment services can support people to live more independently – and should be valued as core infrastructure
Mark Rance explores how the Kirklees Integrated Community Equipment Services model is reducing costs and tackling inequity, while delivering better outcomes for people who draw on care and support, their families and carers. Building on what we now know In ‘Innovating to support independence: The Kirklees approach to Community Equipment Services,’ I set out the rationale for redesigning community equipment services (CES) in Kirklees and […]
5 June 2026
Campaigns
Carers Week 2026
Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face, and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.
5 June 2026
Statements
ADASS responds to Supreme Court ruling on Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
On June 2, the Supreme Court overruled the Cheshire West ruling on the meaning of deprivation of liberty. Rashpal Bishop is the Executive Director of Adults, Social Care and Health at Sandwell Council and the ADASS Vice President. She is also the ADASS Lead on Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, and responds to the judgement.
4 June 2026
Shaping the adult social care research agenda – building on the ADASS Spring Seminar 2026
Chris Lehmann, ADASS Research Committee Chair, and Professor Catherine Needham, Professor of Public Policy and Public Management at the University of Birmingham, report back from an exciting research workshop at our recent Spring Seminar conference.
26 May 2026
Press Releases
ADASS and CQC refresh joint working protocol
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) have updated our Joint Working Protocol (JWP) agreement that sets out how we work together to share information and promote quality and safety.
22 May 2026
ADASS responds to the Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standards report
Our response to the 2025-26 report on the Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standards (SC-WRES).
21 May 2026
