ADCS annual conference 2023 round-up

10 Jul 2023 Home / Blog / ADCS annual conference 2023 round-up /

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The ADCS annual conference took place last week, with colleagues from across the country gathering in Manchester to share ideas and celebrate best practice. As always, the first 24 hours or so of the event offered a private space for directors of children’s services (DCS) and a select few guests to discuss the pressing issues of the day. Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division, spoke to delegates on Wednesday about the challenges in the family justice system and the rising volume of activity, particularly in the use of Deprivation of Liberty Orders. We also heard from leaders in children’s services across local authorities and a children’s trust who reflected on leading through challenge or change. The final session of the DCS only part of the conference focused on Regional Improvement and Innovation Alliances.

The main conference opened on Thursday with ADCS President John Pearce delivering his opening speech where he reflected on the government’s reform plans and highlighted the need for quick and decisive action on the costs associated with the use of agency social workers and the lack of care placements available for some of our most vulnerable children and young people. John’s speech certainly set the tone for this year’s conference, however, a delegation from Durham’s inspiring Children in Care Council stole the show! They shared their experiences of being in care and what they think is needed to make it a more positive experience via a video, poetry and a Q&A. Baroness Barran, Minister for the School System and Student Finance, then had the unenviable task of following the Durham young people and spoke to delegates about the need for greater inclusivity in mainstream education and the government’s focus on improving and addressing persistent absence from school.

Following this, we held an important session on tackling child poverty (one of John Pearce’s priorities for his presidential year) to hear what can be done to mitigate some of the negative impacts of poverty on children and young people’s daily lives and on their life chances. Delegates were then able to choose from a range of cross-cutting workshops which considered: equality, diversity and inclusion in children’s services leadership; what good alternative provision for vulnerable children looks like; our ambition for care experienced young people; and the family help reform agenda. Each workshop included a range of speakers from across local authorities and partner agencies to allow members to delve deeply into these important areas.

The final day of conference started on a positive note as we were treated to three inspiring speakers from Manchester College, Manchester City Council and Reach Foundation who outlined what they are doing to create a more inclusive education environment, rooted in communities. We were then joined by officials at the Department for Education to discuss transforming children’s services followed by a thought-provoking session on children’s mental health, with a keynote input from the Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, plus Ofsted and NHS England. John Pearce closed proceedings with his thanks to all speakers for their excellent contributions and of course all those who joined the conference and allowed it to be such a success. Onto next year!

As always there was lots of Twitter activity over the three days. Search #ADCS23 or see @ADCStweets for a summary of events.

We will post speeches and presentations from the event on the ADCS website when available. We hope to see you at the same time, in the same place for next year’s annual conference.