Pictured at the Northern Ireland Social Care Council’s 13th Annual Social Work and Social Care Research Conference at Riddel Hall, Belfast are from L-R: Tracy Reid, Chief Executive, Social Care Council, Anne McGlade, Research Lead, Social Care Council, Dr Gerry Marshall, Lecturer in Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast, Jonathan Dillon, Head of Service, Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Carole Kirk, Head of Service, Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Professor Paul Best, Director of the Centre for Technological Innovation in Mental Health and Education, Queen’s University Belfast, Dr Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive, Scottish Care and Dr Kenneth Burns, Programme Director, Bachelor of Social Work Degree, University College Cork.
The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (the Social Care Council) welcomed hundreds of social workers, social care workers, students, academics, service users and partners to Riddel Hall, Belfast on 11 March 2026 for the 13th Annual Social Work and Social Care Research Conference.
Centred on the theme “Innovating today – while preparing for tomorrow”, this year’s conference brought together policy, practice, academia, lived experience and learning and development to explore how research and innovation can strengthen the future of social work and social care across Northern Ireland.
Opening the conference, Tracy Reid, Chief Executive, Social Care Council, highlighted the crucial role research plays in supporting a confident, skilled and resilient workforce to improve outcomes for communities.
“This is an important conference, as it is the one time each year we bring together professionals and partners from across social work and social care who are making a difference by seeing opportunities to create innovative solutions through research and quality improvement. Creating this space for learning, innovation and honest conversation is crucial,” she said.
Pictured at the conference launching the new Northern Ireland Social Care Council’s Learning Zone resource – ‘Digital Skills for Social Workers’ – which encourages social workers and social work students to think and learn more about the impact of the digital world on their work, are from L-R: Tricia Devlin, Interim Co-Head of Workforce Development, Social Care Council, Mairead Harkin, Digital Learning Manager, Social Care Council and Helen McVicker, Co-Director of Regulations and Standards, Social Care Council.
At the event she also launched a new Learning Zone resource – ‘Digital Skills for Social Workers’ – which encourages social workers and social work students to think and learn more about the impact of the digital world on their work.
“With a focus on new technologies at this event, it is timely to take the opportunity to launch our new Digital Skills for Social Workers online resource, a practical, accessible tool designed to support social workers in Northern Ireland to build their digital confidence and capability as their practice evolves.”
The Digital Skills for Social Workers resource offers practical tools, self directed learning modules and guidance to help social workers navigate an increasingly digital practice environment, ensuring they can use technology safely, effectively and in ways that enhance the quality of care. The platform is now live at: digitalskillssw.niscc.info.
Keynote speeches on the day reflected the sector’s most pressing opportunities and challenges, including:
- Technology with humanity at the centre – presented by Dr Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive, Scottish care.
- Social media, online and digital abuse – presented by Dr Kenneth Burns of University College Cork.
- Immersive learning and AI – Professor Paul Best, Dr Gerry Marshall, Queen’s University Belfast and Northern Health and Social Care Trust representatives exploring the VITAL programme.
The event featured a powerful panel discussion, ‘Unfolding Avenues to Equality’, featured John Carberry MBE and Brian Symington MBE, long-standing advocates for the deaf community, exploring communication access, campaigning and inclusion, with sign-language interpretation provided.
Great energy was felt during the five-minute ‘lightning presentations’ enabling delegates to deliver their research in bite-size packages for all. Also include were oral presentations and a poster competition voted for by delegates with Julie McGinty taking first prize on the day from Social Care Council Acting Chair Gerry Guckian.
A mainstay of the awards is the recognition of the Research Methods Programme participants from Ulster University, with Professor Paula McFadden, Ulster University presenting awards to the first, second and third-year social work students.
Notes to editor
- If you would like to find out more about research in the social work and social care sectors, visit our website here.
- You can sign up to the Social Care Council’s research newsletter here.
- For any media queries please email: Kerry.mckittrick@niscc.hscni.net.