The City of Wolverhampton Council's second annual Adults and Children's Social Work Conference takes place on Tuesday (28 March, 2017) and will bring together around 300 social workers to specifically focus on how they can work together to improve outcomes for the whole family.
Professionals will discuss how they can work with families in a way that better helps them to build on their strengths, achieve positive outcomes and access the support they need to achieve the things they want to in their lives.
Tuesday's conference, at Grand Station, will see the formal launch of the council's Think Family Social Work Programme, which will support social workers to transfer between adults and children's social work by giving them the opportunity to learn the core skills needed in both disciplines before making a long-term commitment to moving from one to the other.
There will also be a number of keynote speakers who will discuss a range of new approaches and talk about the transformation of social care services in other parts of the country.
Councillor Val Gibson, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "We are constantly looking at ways in which we can improve services and outcomes for children and young people and families.
"This important event, now in its second year, is a fantastic opportunity for professionals to get together, share best practice and develop new ways in which we and our partners agencies can further support people in times of need and that, at all times, social work practitioners are able to 'Think Family'.
"There will be a huge amount of professional knowledge and experience in the room and the event will enable practitioners to share their expertise in a way that can promote positive outcomes for the whole family.
"We're also excited to be formally launching our Think Family Social Work Programme, which will enable children's social care professionals to find out more about adult social work and vice versa, and so further embed the whole family approach."
Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: "Our social workers do a great job, which at times is very challenging. They are pivotal to transforming care pathways and promoting the independence agenda for vulnerable adults.
"As well as an opportunity to reflect, learn and develop, the Adults and Childrens Social Work Conference is a chance for us to say a massive thank you to the hundreds of social workers who work tirelessly, day in, day out, to secure the best possible outcomes for our children and young people, vulnerable adults and families."
- released: Thursday 23 March, 2017