On this page you’ll find presentations from our Social Care Managers Forum.
*The presentations remain the property of the organisation/presenter(s) and cannot be used by anyone else.
Autumn 2025 – Social Care Managers’ Forum Presentations
Anti-racist guidance
Presented by:
Catherine Maguire,
Co-Director of Regulation and Standards Interim, Social Care Council
Jane McMillan, Professional Social Work Officer (Social Care Workforce) Office of Social Services, Department of Health
Jemma Henning, Area Organsier, Unison
Welcoming Internationally educated practitioners-supporting integration and belonging in Northern Ireland
Presented by:
Jonah Atos,
International Nurse Coordinator, Western Health and Social Care Trust
Care in Practice (CIP) Framework update
Presented by:
Mervyn Bothwell,
Professional Adviser, Northern Ireland Social Care Council
Survey of social care practitioners in children’s services
Presented by:
Dr Shirley Boyle,
Lecturer in Social Work, Open University
Coaching and Mentoring
Presented by:
Suzanne McStravick,
Coaching and Mentoring Specialist
A Digital Learning Strategy for the Social Care Council
Presented by:
Mairead Harkin,
Workforce Development Officer/Digital Learning Lead, Northern Ireland Social Care Council
Sharon Foster, Workforce Development Officer, Northern Ireland Social Care Council
Autumn/Winter Vaccination Programme 2025/2026
Presented by:
Caroline Lecky,
Nurse Consultant Care Homes, Public Health Agency
June 2025 – Social Care Managers’ Forum Presentations
Today, tomorrow and the future
Presented by:
Declan McAllister,
Interim Chief Executive, Social Care Council
Standards for Employers of Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners
Presented by:
Helen McVicker,
Interim Co-Director of Regulation and Standards, Social Care Council
DBS Barring Workshop
Presented by:
Sean Maskey,
Regional Outreach Adviser, Disclosure and Barring Service
Complaints Standards – One set of complaint handling procedures for public bodies and comissioned services
Presented by:
Julie Healy, Director, Improvement, Engagement and Impact, Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman
Michaela Mackin, Policy and Engagement Officer, Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman
Meeting loneliness together
Presented by:
Mandy Cowden, Professional Adviser, Social Care Council
Mairead Harkin, Workforce Development Officer/Digital Learning Lead, Social Care Council
The importance of Learning and Development for social care
Presented by:
Jane McMillan, Professional Social Work Officer, Department of Health
Care in Practice Framework – the journey so far
Presented by:
Paul Rooney, Professional Adviser, Social Care Council
H&SC Diplomas Review – Update
Presented by:
Sharon Foster, Workforce Development Officer, Social Care Council
Launch of Care in Practice Framework – Interactive Web Resource – over to you
Presented by:
Mairead Harkin, Workforce Development Officer/Digital Learning Lead, Social Care Council
Paul Rooney, Professional Adviser, Social Care Council
Spring 2024 – Social Care Managers’ Forum Presentations
Turning the dial on social care
Presented by:
Patricia Higgins,
Chief Executive, Social Care Council
What does the Care in Practice Framework mean for you and your staff?
Presented by:
Mervyn Bothwell and Meta Keenan,
Professional Advisers, Social Care Council
The underpinning principles and their use in all social care roles
Presented by:
Ms Sarah Penney, Associate Director,
My Home Life NI, School of Nursing
and Paramedic Science (SoNP)
My life in a care home
Presented by:
Linda Craig, Regional Lead Patient Client Experience, Public Health Agency
Dalrene Masson, Project Lead for Patient Client Experience/
Care Homes, Public Health Agency
Values-based retention toolkit – What works in valuing and keeping social care practitioners?
Presented by:
Mairead Harkin, Workforce Development
Officer/Lead for Digital Learning,
Social Care Council
Supporting a proud workforce in a digtial age
Presented by:
Ruth Hutchison,
Head of Registration Services,
Social Care Council
Declan McAllister,
Director of Registration and Corporate Services,
Social Care Council
Autumn 2023 – Social Care Managers’ Forum Presentations
Understanding Visual Impairments with Empatheyes to Enhance Care
Presented by:
Mark Nattriss, Business Development Executive, Empatheyes
Social Care Worker Referrals to Fitness to Practice – 2012-2022
Presented by:
Helen Vicker, Head of Fitness to Practice, Social Care Council
RQIA Inspection Support Volunteers Initiative
Presented by:
Amanda Jackson, Assistant Director, Adult Care Services Directorate, RQIA
The Care in Practice Framework: Discovery of Social Care Managers’ Attitudes, Needs and Expectations
Presented by:
Jonathan Synnott, Design and Research Lead, Big Motive
Social Care Reform – Update on Level 2 Qualification, Traineeships and Apprenticeships
Presented by:
Paul Rooney, Professional Adviser, Social Care Council
Learning and Development Planning
Presented by:
Colin Smith, Assistant Director of Organisational Development, Inspire
Review of Registrants’ Forum Engagement
Presented by:
Marian O’Rourke, Director of Regulations and Standards and Rita McCullagh, Head of Strategic Communications and Engagment
Social Care Council
A New Social Care App – Progress so Far
Presented by:
Declan McAllister, Director, Registration and Corporate Services, Social Care Council
Supporting People in Care Homes this Winter – What Can We Do?
Presented by:
Caroline Lecky, Nurse Consultant Care Homes, Public Health Agency
Spring 2023 – Social Care Managers’ Forum Presentations
How to keep social care practitioners?
Presented by:
Shirley Boyle, Sessional Professional Advisor
Staff Retention
Presented by:
Dory Kidd, Senior Director, Harmony Community Care Services
You can watch the video on Staff Retention by clicking the link: Staff Retention
Workforce Planning – Supporting Staff Talent
Presented by:
Darren Campbell, Disability Daycare Manager, SHSCT
Apprenticeships
Presented by:
Michael Harris, Head of Apprenticeships Development & Marketing, Department for the Economy
Care in Practice Framework update
Presented by:
Paul Rooney, Professional Adviser, Social Care Council,
Meta Keenan, Workforce Development Officer,
Social Care Council
Developing our Social Care Council App
Presented by:
Declan McAllister, Director of Registration and
Corporate Services, Social Care Council
Mairead Harkin, Workforce Development Officer,
Social Care Council
Autumn 2022 – Social Care Managers’ Forum Presentations
Learning Zone New User Experience
Presented by:
Mairead Harkin, Workforce Development Officer,
Digital Learning, Social Care Council (SCC)
The Humans of Inspection
Presented by:
Marie-Claire Quinn, Senior Inspector, Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority
Social care reform: Sector perspectives
Presented by:
Dr Shirley Boyle, Sessional Professional Adviser, SCC
Social care reform
Presented by:
Paul Rooney, Professional Adviser, SCC
Mervyn Bothwell, Professional Adviser, SCC
Meta Keenan, Workforce Development Officer, SCC
Mairead Harkin, Workforce Development Officer, SCC
Registration: Supporting an Innovative Workforce
Presented by:
Declan McAllister, Director of Regulation and Corporate Services, SCC
