13 June 2008
Time for Change
WLGA and ADSS Cymru Joint Conference
18th-20th June 2008, Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Gwenda Thomas, AM, Deputy Minister for Social Services and Sir Jeremy Beecham are two of many key speakers to address over 180 delegates attending a major social services improvement conference next week in North Wales.
Professional and political leaders from across the public, private and independent sectors will meet in Llandudno next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to explore improvements in social services, experiences of partnership working and future challenges. The conference will provide an excellent opportunity to hear from key note speakers on their views for advancing the social services improvement agenda in Wales across a number of cross cutting themes.
Leading politicians and professionals will participate in the event, including:
• Gwenda Thomas, AM, Deputy Minister for Social Services, Welsh Assembly Government
• Sir Jeremy Beecham, Vice Chair, Local Government Association
• David Behan, Director General of Social Care, Department of Health (UK)
• Cllr Meryl Gravell (OBE), WLGA Presiding Officer (elect)
• Stewart Greenwell, President ADSS Cymru
• Neelam Bhardwaja, Vice President ADSS Cymru
• Rob Pickford, Chief Executive, Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales
• Keith Towler, Children’s Commissioner for Wales
• Ruth Marks, Commissioner for Older People in Wales
• Graham Williams, Director of Social Services, Welsh Assembly Government.
• Rhian Huws Williams, Chief Executive, Care Council for Wales
The conference programme, designed to promote the collaborative approach to social services improvement in Wales, includes presentations, workshops and exhibitions highlighting local practice.
Key areas for discussion include:
• Policy Challenges in the Welsh Assembly Government: new opportunities to maximise social services improvement
• Speaking up for our communities- a local government perspective
• Managing demand in the future
• Listening to users and acting on what we hear
• Learning the lessons through partnership
• Developing policy to improve the quality of care
• Speaking up for older and younger people: shaping services for the future
• Social services workforce: a growing success story
The conference programme is available at: http://www.wlga.gov.uk/english/events/wlgagovukadssjointconference/
For more information contact: Natasha Weeks