Social Work Scotland Conference and Exhibition 2024
CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 2024 Wednesday 25 September 2024 in association with
We’re delighted to be in central Glasgow this year, at University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre, and look forward to creating a space for networking, collaboration, connection and reflection.
Our conference theme, ‘Developing leaders of the future’, aims to acknowledge the challenges social work faces in the current landscape, whilst exploring what we need to do to inspire and equip future leaders of the profession. We recognise
• the crisis in recruitment and retention and the need to support existing and emerging leaders to be able to ‘fly the flag’ for social work;
• the effects of change demographically, politically, and economically, and the increasingly critical role of social work leaders throughout; and
• the demands of leadership, including the unique skillset and experience future leaders will need to effectively balance social work values and managerial demands.
More than any before it, this year’s conference feels as if we are on the precipice of change. As we wait to hear the outcome of deliberations around the National Care Service Bill, with stage 2 under scrutiny, we’re also facing crippling recruitment and retention issues, budgetary pressures, a workforce which is exhausted and ageing, and the continued impact of the pandemic and austerity measures. If ever there was a time for social work to be discussing how to enthuse leaders of today and tomorrow, this is it.
And finally, a thank you. Social Work Scotland could not exist without our individual members, who contribute and give voice to the incredible range and depth of activity that happens every day in Scotland.
From representing us in national forums, contributing to our standing committees and subgroups to the individual relationships and support you provide to individuals and families, our members help us influence and advance the role of social work leadership, which remains our key priority, and without you we’d be nothing. The coming months and years will see structural change affect our organisation too, and we will keep our members at the heart of it. If you’re not already a member – please consider joining us; we’re stronger with you.
Ben Farrugia Director, Social Work Scotland (SWS)
A big thank you to all of our sponsors
Programme
08:00am Breakfast, Networking, and Exhibitions
09:30am Conference Welcome
David Lee, Host
09:35am Using AI to free up time for frontline staff: Magic Notes powered by Beam
John Trainer, Convenor, Social Work Scotland and CSWO, Renfrewshire Council
09:55am Keynote: Leadership Landscaping: Paving the Way for Future Leaders
Kathryn Lindsay, Chief Executive, Angus Council
10:10am Keynote: Reflections on the Role of Media in Social Work Leadership
Pennie Taylor, Freelance Journalist
10:25am Panel Discussion: What do we need to equip and enthuse leaders for today and tomorrow?
Chaired by David Lee
John Trainer, Convenor, Social Work Scotland and CSWO, Renfrewshire Council
Kathryn Lindsay, Chief Executive, Angus Council
Pennie Taylor, Freelance Journalist
Toyin Adenugba, Social Worker, West Lothian Council, Co-Chair, SASW, Academic Tutor, University of Edinburgh
11:00am Refreshments, Networking, and Exhibitions
11:30am Workshops Part 1
You will attend your first choice of the following eight:
Anti-racism in Leadership by the Scottish Association of Social Work Leadership Practices for Complex Change by CELCIS
Leadership and Decision Making by Glasgow Caledonian University
Leadership in a Time of Climate Change–Challenges for the Future and How We Might Meet Them by UWS and Common Weal Scotland
Learning to Lead: Developing and Nurturing Future Leaders Through Social Work Education and Newly Qualified Practice by University of Strathclyde (staff and alumni) & Inverclyde Council
Rights in Record Access by Social Work Scotland
Social Work Leadership, in a world of Care Management by Social Work Scotland and UNISON
Social Work Leadership in a Digital Landscape by COSLA, Scottish Government and Social Work Scotland
12:50pm Lunch, Networking, and Exhibitions
13:50pm Workshops Part 2
You will attend your second choice of the above eight
15:15pm Welcome Back
David Lee, Host
15:20pm Bearing Witness to the ‘Pain of Others’: Fractured Lives, Dissenting Voices, Recovering ‘Truth’
Professor Phil Scraton, Professor Emeritus, School of Law, Queens University Belfast, Criminologist, Academic, and Author
15:55pm Q&A
Chaired by David Lee, Host
16:10pm A message from Angela Constance MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Scottish Government
16:15pm Closing Remarks
Ben Farrugia, Director, Social Work Scotland
16:30pm Conference Closes
Workshops
Workshop A: Anti-Racism – Beyond the Personal
Hosted by Scottish Association of Social Work
Workshop B: Leadership Practices for Complex Change
Hosted by CELCIS
Workshop C: Leadership and Decision Making
Hosted by Glasgow Caledonian University
Workshop D: Leadership in a Time of Climate Change – Challenges for the Future and How We Might Meet Them
Hosted by UWS and Common Weal Scotland
Workshop E: Learning to Lead: Developing and Nurturing Future Leaders Through Social Work Education and Newly Qualified Practice
Hosted by University of Strathclyde (staff and alumni) & Inverclyde Council
Workshop F: Accessing Records in Scotland: What People with Care Experience Tell Us About the Right of Access
Hosted by Social Work Scotland
Workshop G:
Social Work Leadership in a Digital Landscape
Hosted by COSLA, Scottish Government and Social Work Scotland
Workshop H:
Social Work Leadership, in a World of Care Management
Hosted by Social Work Scotland and Unison
Speakers
John Trainer
Convenor, Social Work Scotland
Chief Social Work Officer, Renfrewshire Council
John is a qualified social worker and the current Chief Social Work Officer for Renfrewshire in addition to his role as Head of Child Care and Criminal Justice. During his career John has worked in children, justice and adult social work. John has extensive experience in operational and strategic posts across social work. John was Head of Early Years and Inclusion in Renfrewshire before taking up his current post in September 2018.
Outside of work John is a runner, cyclist, skier and football fan. He is also active in the credit union movement.
Kathryn Lindsay
Chief Executive, Angus Council
Kathryn Lindsay took up post as Chief Executive of Angus Council in January 2024. She spent the previous eight years as part of the authority’s senior leadership team in roles including as Director of Children, Families and Justice and Chief Social Work Officer.
A registered social worker, Kathryn has worked for 25 years across the Tayside area as a practitioner and manager of social work services in both the public and voluntary sectors. Kathryn has extensive experience of leading and transforming services and a longstanding commitment to post qualifying learning, most recently achieving the Chief Social Work Officer Post Graduate Diploma at Glasgow Caledonian University. She holds post graduate Masters in both practice and leadership-based subjects and a particular interest in developing the workforce, promoting relationship-based practice and public protection. Her experience includes strategic leadership of multi-agency public protection arrangements and response to critical incidents.
Kathryn was instrumental in supporting the national leadership of social work and social care throughout the Covid pandemic during her tenure as President and a longstanding Board member of Social Work Scotland. She has also served in a voluntary capacity as a Trustee on the Board of Forces Children Scotland and acted as a professional advisor to The Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ), the Board of the Scottish Association for Social Work and Lloyds TSB PDI.
Passionate about making real change for people, Kathryn is committed to whole system thinking, learning from and working with others to support the leadership of innovation and service delivery across Scotland.
Speakers
Pennie Taylor
Freelance Journalist
Pennie Taylor is an award-winning freelance journalist and broadcaster who specialises in health and care issues. Based in Glasgow, she was BBC Scotland’s first Health Correspondent and has also worked on the newsdesks of national newspapers.
A former Head of Communications for the Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust in Edinburgh, Pennie has inside knowledge of how public services work. This gives her a uniquely informed perspective from which to approach and stimulate debate.
Dr. Toyin Adenugba-Okpaje
Social Worker, West Lothian Council, Co-Chair of SASW, Academic Tutor, University of Edinburgh
Toyin is a social worker employed by the West Lothian Council (WLC) in the Older People’s Team (Care Homes Collaborative and Support Team), working with other health, allied, and social service professionals to meet the needs of people resident in Care/Nursing Homes in WLC.
Toyin is also an Academic Tutor with the University of Edinburgh and started this role during their Doctoral studies. Having recently completed the Ph.D. degree, Toyin looked at the outcomes of Scottish mothers who have been in care and the legacy of social work intervention.
Phil Scraton
Professor Emeritus, School of Law, Queens University Belfast, Criminologist, Academic, and Author
Phil Scraton is Professor Emeritus, School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast. He has held visiting professorships at Amherst, Massachusetts; at Monash, Sydney, and New South Wales Universities, Australia. Research focuses are: critical theory; contested deaths and State responsibility; rights of bereaved and survivors following disasters; the politics of incarceration; childhood, rights and justice. His books include: Law, Order and the Authoritarian State; The State of the Police; Childhood in ‘Crisis’?; Power, Conflict and Criminalisation; Hillsborough: The Truth; The Violence of Incarceration; and Childhood, Transition and Social Justice (forthcoming). Primary author of the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s ground-breaking report Hillsborough (2012). More recently: The Independent Panel of Inquiry into the Circumstances of the H-Block and Armagh Prison Protests 1976-1981 (2020); Deaths in Contested Circumstances and Coroners’ Inquests (2021); Truth, Acknowledgement and Accountability: Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses (2021); and ‘Treated With Contempt’, police brutality at the Paris European Champions League Final (2022). Awarded the Freedom of the City of Liverpool, he refused an OBE, and was castaway on BBC’s Desert Island Discs
Giving young people a chance at life
Kibble is a specialist child and youth care charity and leading social enterprise that supports at-risk children and young people (aged 5-26) across the UK.
We empower young people and families through care, education and support to open opportunities and create positive futures. Our services span residential care, primary, secondary and tertiary education, an education day hub, secure care, fostering and adoption, therapeutic support, community-based services and housing support.
Find Out More
If you’d like to learn more about Kibble’s services, or to discuss a referral, please contact us on 0141 889 0044 or email referrals@kibble.org www.kibble.org | @KibbleCharity | KibbleGroup
Kibble’s Annual Conference 2024
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Comprehensive support for social workers
Ongoing CPL and development
Advice, representation and support.
Campaining and lobbying
Employers of NQSWs: SASW offers a bespoke programme of support and learning, meeting SSSC requirements.
Kibble Education and Care Centre: Scottish Charity No SC026917 Registered in Scotland No 158220
A place to live, a space to thrive
Our Here4U service extends our support for young people from their transition up to age 26. Harmeny provides specialist therapeutic care and education on a residential and day basis for children aged 5-18 who have been impacted by trauma.
Adoption Support for Local Authorities
At Kibble Adoption, we work with local authorities to co-produce and co-design services to reduce the drift and delay of children’s plans.
To meet the needs of each individual child or young person, we work alongside local authorities to deliver bespoke packages with tailored support. This is achieved by providing:
• Training & recruitment support
• PAR-S assessments undertaken within six months
• Recruitment of adopters specific to child/sibling groups
• Packages of support based on individual needs Contact us to find out more on 0800 008 6812, or email kasrecruitment@kibble.org
Our mission is to apply our technology and services to take complexity out of people’s lives, whether they use, deliver or enable care services.
We work collaboratively to make a positive impact to the lives of the most vulnerable adults and children across the UK.
The ECLIPSE platform covers:
tri x has been producing web-enabled information, procedures and guidance across the social care sector for over 18 years in England
Over the past several months we have been working in partnership with Edinburgh Council to produce an online manual for Scottish Social Care Sectors
The first product that tri x will be officially launching in Scotland is the Online Procedures Manual for Children’s Services
We strive to create trusting and positive partnerships with Local Authorities and Independent Providers, working continuously to learn and innovate to meet and respond to your needs
