The Northern Ireland Social Care Council’s (the Social Care Council) Social Care Managers forums are twice-yearly, free events that provide leaders, managers, supervisors, and team leaders in the social care sector with policy updates, expert presentations and peer-to-peer networking opportunities.
The Spring forums was recently held in Portadown and Antrim, focussing on the theme ‘Recruitment and retention matters: solutions for resilient workforce in Northern Ireland’.
There were a number of sector updates, including a focus on technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence (AI), with Declan McAlister, Social Care Council Director of Registration and Corporate Services and Soo Hun, Innovation and Digital Ecosystem Lead from Digital Health and Social Care NI, exploring the use of AI in adult social care. The presentation included vital awareness raising information and, more importantly, the risks and ethics surrounding AI. A key point being that AI in the future would enhance social care, not replace it.
Other speakers included Suzanne McStravick, Independent Consultant, who presented a review of social care employer supervision policy and practice across the statutory and independent sectors in Northern Ireland. This report was commissioned by the Department for Health (NI) and Suzanne delivered a personal and motivating contribution on why supervision and learning remain critical to workforce sustainability. On that theme, Mairead Harkin, the Social Care Council’s Digital Learning Manager, also gave an update on how the Learning Zone resources can help to support recruitment, retention and continuous professional learning in social care.
Rachel Mackarel from L’Arche Belfast, Adrian Ghosh, Mainstay DRP and Mervyn Bothwell, Professional Advisor with the Social Care Council participated in a panel discussion on what works when recruiting and retaining the “right” people to practice in social care, now and in the future. This was followed by a table exercise focussing on values-based recruitment and retention, and how this connects to the Care in Practice (CiP) Framework.
The day concluded with updates from the Social Care Council’s Workforce Development Team covering children’s services, qualifications, apprenticeships, traineeships and upcoming events including the new CiP Pathway Live events.
If you missed the forum this time around, all presentations, reports, Learning Zone resources and events promoted are now available to view on our website as follows:
Care in Practice Pathway Live events – to book your place
Social Care Manager Forum Presentations and Resources
Values Based Recruitment and Retention Toolkits
The next Social Care Council Managers’ Forums are due to take place in autumn 2026.
Please keep an eye on our events page for updates on future events.