Gateshead celebrates first Social Care Practice Week
Gateshead Council is celebrating its first Social Care Practice Week, which will incorporate World Social Work Day on Tuesday (15 March).
Gateshead's first Children, Adult and Families Practice Week will be an opportunity for the social care workforce across both Children's and Adults to come together and share best practice, learn from one another and hear from experts in the sector.
It will also provide senior leaders and portfolio holders with a unique opportunity to hear directly from both service users and social care teams, which helps to ensure a high quality of service.
Each day will have its own theme, including reflect, practice and act. This will provide the opportunity for the workforce to reflect on their work, share best practice and act to ensure the sector provides an equal, diverse and inclusive service for all of Gateshead's children, adults and families.
Steph Downey, service director for Adult's Social Care at Gateshead Council, said: "We are really excited to be celebrating our very first Social Care Practice Week in Gateshead.
"The week will be an unique opportunity for Adult's and Children's services to come together and not only learn about best practice, but to celebrate the fantastic work of our dedicated teams who support service users across Gateshead to live thriving lives."
Andrea Houlahan, service director for Children's Social Care at Gateshead Council, added: ""It has been an incredibly challenging two years, and whilst we have joined in with national and regional campaigns to recognise the hard work of our social care services, we have not had the opportunity to hold our own.
"Our social care teams have such a strong relationship and support each other as much as they support our service users. Practice Week is about celebrating this relationship and building on it by sharing experiences, learnings and best practice, as well as celebrating together."
Sessions will be held throughout the week based on the day's theme and are free to join. This includes a 'Behind the Mask' session to recognise the impact of the pandemic on the sector, which will be hosted by Director of Public Health, Alice Wiseman, on World Social Work Day.
Other sessions will include visits with portfolio holders to foster carers and children in the care of the council, as well as visits to the council's adult social care provisions.
Councillor Michael McNestry, portfolio holder for Adult's Social Care at Gateshead Council, said: "We are incredibly proud of the service we offer to adults with social care needs in Gateshead.
"By hosting our own Social Care Practice Week, we can hear from service user's and social care team's own experiences and ensure that we are providing the best service we can."
Councillor Gary Haley, portfolio holder for Children and Young People at Gateshead Council, said: "Even during the height of the pandemic, under strict lockdown guidance, our social care teams continued to provide the best possible services across Gateshead.
"It is brilliant to be able to dedicate an entire week to recognising and celebrating the hard work of our teams and I thank all of the service leaders who made this opportunity possible."
Gateshead Council is celebrating its first Social Care Practice Week, which will incorporate World Social Work Day on Tuesday (15 March).
Gateshead's first Children, Adult and Families Practice Week will be an opportunity for the social care workforce across both Children's and Adults to come together and share best practice, learn from one another and hear from experts in the sector.
It will also provide senior leaders and portfolio holders with a unique opportunity to hear directly from both service users and social care teams, which helps to ensure a high quality of service.
Each day will have its own theme, including reflect, practice and act. This will provide the opportunity for the workforce to reflect on their work, share best practice and act to ensure the sector provides an equal, diverse and inclusive service for all of Gateshead's children, adults and families.
Steph Downey, service director for Adult's Social Care at Gateshead Council, said: "We are really excited to be celebrating our very first Social Care Practice Week in Gateshead.
"The week will be an unique opportunity for Adult's and Children's services to come together and not only learn about best practice, but to celebrate the fantastic work of our dedicated teams who support service users across Gateshead to live thriving lives."
Andrea Houlahan, service director for Children's Social Care at Gateshead Council, added: ""It has been an incredibly challenging two years, and whilst we have joined in with national and regional campaigns to recognise the hard work of our social care services, we have not had the opportunity to hold our own.
"Our social care teams have such a strong relationship and support each other as much as they support our service users. Practice Week is about celebrating this relationship and building on it by sharing experiences, learnings and best practice, as well as celebrating together."
Sessions will be held throughout the week based on the day's theme and are free to join. This includes a 'Behind the Mask' session to recognise the impact of the pandemic on the sector, which will be hosted by Director of Public Health, Alice Wiseman, on World Social Work Day.
Other sessions will include visits with portfolio holders to foster carers and children in the care of the council, as well as visits to the council's adult social care provisions.
Councillor Michael McNestry, portfolio holder for Adult's Social Care at Gateshead Council, said: "We are incredibly proud of the service we offer to adults with social care needs in Gateshead.
"By hosting our own Social Care Practice Week, we can hear from service user's and social care team's own experiences and ensure that we are providing the best service we can."
Councillor Gary Haley, portfolio holder for Children and Young People at Gateshead Council, said: "Even during the height of the pandemic, under strict lockdown guidance, our social care teams continued to provide the best possible services across Gateshead.
"It is brilliant to be able to dedicate an entire week to recognising and celebrating the hard work of our teams and I thank all of the service leaders who made this opportunity possible."
