Foreword
Declan McAllister, Interim Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Social Care Council
As Interim Chief Executive of the Social Care Council, I was delighted to welcome delegates to the 2025 Annual Social Work and Social Care Research Conference, now in its 12th year.
The conference and the level of interest that it generates has risen consistently over the years and the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, was delighted to host what has proved to be one of the largest events to date.
Riddel Hall, steeped in history, proved to be an excellent venue capable of accommodating a unique and creative all-day programme. A programme that is co designed from the outset to include opportunities for dialogue and engagement of people with lived experience, practitioners, academics, managers and researchers to meet, present and discuss research and all on an equal platform.
Getting research into practice takes time but can be achieved by creating the right culture, the right leadership, the right commitment and the right infrastructure. It also requires resources, capability in interpretation and implementing evidence and engaging staff and people with lived experience in evidence-based policy and practice.
One step in this process is dissemination. Opening up dialogue and discussion on research and evidence is why this annual conference is so valuable.
We invite you to learn a bit more about the day over the pages and discover how the event offered opportunities for both presenters and delegates to engage and learn from each other.
Conference format
How did the day go?
The one-day event took place on 5 March 2025. The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Making Connections, Collective Leadership, Workforce Planning, Change and Service User Involvement’. Delegates had the privilege of hearing from a diverse range of speakers who were genuinely passionate about their research studies, delivering presentations a way that generated interest and enthusiasm amongst the audience.
The generosity of speakers to continue to engage and chat with delegates throughout the day was much appreciated.
The opportunity to glean new knowledge and learning from the day was immense, with topics spanning over practice, management, policy, learning and development.
Keynote speeches
The research in Social Work and Social Care conference is brought together each year by its keynote speakers, each of whom brings expert knowledge, passion and experience to transfer their wisdom and learning to delegates in an accessible way.
Professor Paula McFadden and Dr Gillian Martin, Ulster University
Taking the debate on workforce challenges and opportunities a step further, Professor McFadden and Dr Gillian Martin examined the moral and fiscal costs of social worker turnover in Children’s Services in Northern Ireland.
In this presentation the topic was explored from a unique economic and service user perspective. The challenge for the wider system is the extent that social work is prepared for the changing demographics in society and the changing needs of people who use our services.
Professor Robin Miller, impact and Birmingham University with Stacey Grealis, advocate and activist
Setting it in context, Professor Miller explained that co-production is often an overused phrase. Despite well intended aspirations, the reality often falls far short. In the production of research in integrated care it is rarely developed or embedded or sustained.
Drawing on his own research Professor Miller explored the concept in more depth using a range of more inclusive titles and roles – all with the key objective of taking time and making space for listening.
Check out: Citizen Leadership – University of Birmingham
His co presenter Stacey Grealis – describing herself as an advocate, activist and informed disrupter, delivered an honest reflection of her experience over many years.
She articulated the many barriers she has encountered when her voice and the voices of others went unheard. In such circumstances the problem was that there was limited commitment, resources or capacity to do co-production well.
On a positive note, drawing on a number of good practices there was a genuine recognition of what citizens can bring to the table, allowing solutions to emerge. These solutions are those that genuinely respect the voices of all and ensure that all those who matter are part of decision making.
Leaving us all with food for thought, Professor Miller reflected on the outcomes of a review of 10 years of published articles which identified that few included the experiences of those lived experience in research or improvement projects.
Assistant Professor Muireann Ní Raghallaigh, University College Dublin
Setting the context within contemporary society, and drawing on international research and local research undertaken in Ireland, Dr Muireann Ní Raghallaigh explored the complexities and challenges that face unaccompanied refugee children and young people as they struggle to navigate their new life in new countries and new systems.
Globally there are increased numbers of refugees, threats to diversity, polarisation of views and securitisation of migration.
The complexities of children and young people’s lives are impacted by experiences of pre-migration, experience of light experiences of transit and experiences post migration. Being alone, suspicion, risk of trafficking family reunification, pressure on housing and demands for mental health and other services by all inevitably impact on refugee children.
Drawing on research findings the presentation highlighted the role for social workers and their:
- Need to individualise people of refugee background and prioritise relationships in practice;
- Need to advocate for and plan systems and services that consider not only the young people at this point in time, but also take their past and future into account (e.g. when they turn 18, when family arrive);
- Need to advocate for housing for all and for services for adult asylum seekers that recognise their potential vulnerability;
- Need to adopt an intersectional lens and bring different marginalised groups together;
- Need to ensure social workers and social care workers engage in ongoing anti-racism training; and,
- Need to speak up – be brave.
Dr Janet Diffin Senior R&D Programme Manager, Research and Development, Division office
Dr Diffin is an advocate for research and for the involvement of people with lived experiences. In our long-established collaboration with the R&D, Division Office delegates have, over the years, always benefited from inputs about the wider HSC research agenda in Northern Ireland. In her presentation Janet provided details on a range of opportunities, including funding open to social work and social care for doing research
Conference summary
Oral presentations
On the day, 27 oral presentations were delivered. Each session had up to 30 delegates and was supported by a chair who enabled and facilitated dialogue and discussion. To maintain high standards and credibility presentations were rigorously assessed in advance by a Conference Abstract Committee. As always it is both the willingness of presenters to share their findings and delegates to listen and engage in dialogue that makes the conference a success.
Lightning presentations
A new element of the 2025 Conference was the introduction of lightning presentations. Using one slide only, our four presenters did an amazing job at delivering and igniting delegates’ interest presenting in rapid five minutes slots. Topics related to learning and development needs of children and young people care workers, models of attachment in residential care, young onset of dementia and improving meaningful engagement in long term care.
The poster presentations
The quality of the conference continues to be enhanced by poster presentation. Posters were all creative and of a high quality and presenters were willing to discuss their studies in more detail. Audience participation and engagement was facilitated through poster voting. Congratulations to our three winners and everyone who presented a poster.
If you are interested in receiving a copy of any of the presentations as outlined on the programme – you can do so by clicking here or contacting our conference organisers on SWSCResearchConference@hscni.net
The display stands
Organisations increasingly welcome the opportunity to attend the conference as a means of engagement and networking and connectivity. We are delighted with a range of representatives from 12 organisations who actively participated and disseminated invaluable information and materials.
Live illustration
Talented graphic artist Molly McFadden was on hand through out the day creating graphic minutes of the event. She was able to take key themes, speakers and idea and create the bigger picture, literally.
Interludes
Edelle McMahon (Alzheimer’s Society) Singing for the Brain took no excuses from delegates not to participate. In a short uplifting musical interlude, she instilled a high level of musical energy in the room. This is the same approach that Edelle uses when encouraging people with dementia to enhance their wellbeing through singing. – and what Edelle also said- quietly – is that her career might have been very different having commenced research academic study at PhD level.
Nandi Jola (Arts Ekta) delivered an emotional and poignant monologue entitled Broken Down. Drawn from experiences over 20 years ago, the session explored what has changed and whilst there are positives there remain cultural differences, inherited traumas and other factors such as religion and tribalism that social services need to take into consideration when it comes to assessing the mental ill-health of ethnic minorities that both staff, and people who need services. She also highlighted the needs and experiences of staff from minority ethnic communities.
Award Ceremony – Research Methods programme at Ulster University
A regular feature of the annual conference is our awards ceremony. 16 student social workers and service users were awarded their Post Qualifying award as a result of successfully completing the Research Methods Programme at Ulster University (certificate, diploma or master’s level).
Students work extremely hard to achieve these awards producing excellent evidence reviews, undertaking research and evaluation studies and influencing others. Awards were presented by Aine Morrison, Chief Social Services Officer, Department of Health (DoH).
Message from Anne McGlade
Anne McGlade Social Work and Social Care Research Lead, Social Care Council
As Social Work and Social Care Research Lead within the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, I am impressed by the increasing interest, dedication and commitment by colleagues both in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom to attend and present at this conference. Over the 12 years that we have been running the research conference this interest has not waned. The demand for places at this year’s conference was impressive. Apologies to anyone who did not get a place.
Based on our event it is important that we take time to celebrate and reflect on our achievements.
When we speak about Research Leadership let’s give ourselves credit that we are all playing our part. Practitioners, policy makers, managers and those with lived experience and researchers working together and presenting together help create the necessary conditions for supporting getting evidence into practice.
A huge thank you to everyone who played a part in the 2025 conference. Keep up the good work.
Our Research and Evidence Partnership led by the Social Care Council and chaired by Professor Davy Hayes (Queen’s University and Board Member) was formally established in September 2024 with a third meeting scheduled for April 2025. Our key task is to plan for the development of a new Research and Evidence Strategy addressing issues of diversity and inclusion, research funding, research priorities and capacity.
Members of our Research Community, which was established since 2019, will continue to play an integral part in these developments.
Please find more of our research content by clicking here
Comments from delegates and participants
“Excellent event, it had a variety of speakers and content and could probably have filled two days, as with so many interesting presentations it was difficult to choose which ones to attend. Well done for running this event so seamlessly.”
“Fantastic event great lunch great opportunities for me as a student to learn.”
“Overall I found the event to be well organised and it was clear a lot of thought had gone into making the event an enjoyable day. Whilst there were some of the oral presentations I would love to have heard that were in different rooms this did not detract from the oral presentations I heard. It was clear that the presenters had a passion for their research areas. I found there to be sufficient time for networking with colleagues and sharing learning. A very enjoyable day.”
“So impressed with the extent of the research being shared which highlights the appetite for engagement in research among social workers in NI.”
“Brilliant organisational skills and a very professional conference brochure. The effort in planning really paid off.”
“Grateful thanks for the opportunity to participate in such a well organised event that did not lose any of its warmth, sense of camaraderie and approachability.”
We collected some statistics from our delegates:
Save the date for 13th Annual Social Work and Social Care Conference 2026.
To stay up to date and for more details, click here. Formal invitations will follow soon. We can’t wait to celebrate with you again.
Photo gallery
