For social care practitioners, learning from the expertise of those with lived experience of services is critical to good practice.
That's why people with experience of receiving social care will be at the forefront of the learning being delivered at Community Care Live 2024, which takes place in London from 8-9 October.
Voices of lived experience
Bestselling author and care experienced trainer Jenny Molloy will be returning to the event for a session on day two (9 October) on how social workers can work better with women who have recovered from addiction and domestic abuse.Jenny will draw on her work as patron of women’s recovery charity Trevi and will be speaking alongside two other experts by experience, Helen and Vicki.
Also on day two, Luke Rodgers will tell his compelling story of going from being a care leaver to founding charity the Care Leaders, which provides children’s services practitioners with training on supporting young people from a lived experience perspective.And on day one (8 October), expert by experience and academic Rebecca Regler will deliver a session on why involving people with lived experience in social work’s design and delivery is so important, and how it can be increased at individual and strategic level.
Promoting inclusion
Alongside these sessions, we are welcoming back the ever-popular Chickenshed Theatre Company, whose members will be sharing their own experiences of social exclusion in their production, ‘Inclusion Emergency’.The show, on day one, is designed to help practitioners understand young people’s lived experiences and the barriers to inclusion that many face.
Practitioners will also be drawing on their lived experience at this year’s event. This includes a session on how employers can make workplaces more inclusive for staff with neurodivergent conditions, such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia, delivered by social workers Florence Smith and Jenni Guthrie, from training firm Neuro Inclusive Solutions.
A wealth of free learning
And this is just a flavour of the learning on offer at this year's event, with 37 sessions across the two days. Most of these are free to attend for eligible social care practitioners, with topics this year including relationship-based practice, learning from serious cases, supporting adults with learning disabilities to participate online and trauma-informed practice with young asylum seekers.We also have a dedicated learning stream for occupational therapists on day one, which will cover anti-oppressive practice, working with risk and forging strong working relationships with social work colleagues.
Top-quality legal training
Alongside our free sessions, we will again be running eight paid-for legal seminars, delivered by leading barristers and legal trainers.These include Community Care Inform legal editor Tim Spencer-Lane, who will be delivering sessions on the Mental Capacity Act and care and support decisions, the legal framework around safeguarding adults and section 117 aftercare under the Mental Health Act on day two.
Our other legal sessions cover hoarding, covert medication and capacity law, supporting asylum seekers with additional needs, understanding capacity, competence and parental responsibility in relation to young people, protecting young people from exploitation and private family law proceedings.
You can book any one of these sessions for £35 + VAT.
Network with colleagues and explore opportunities
Alongside the learning, you will have the chance to network with fellow practitioners and explore new opportunities - with employers, learning organisations, providers and recruiters - in our exhibition.And to help you relax and to provide a break from the learning, you can take part in our seated yoga and medication sessions, delivered by Essex County Council practitioners.
It is thanks to Essex County Council, our event partner, Hampshire County Council, our learning sponsor, and Wiltshire Council, our event sponsor, along with our exhibitors, that it is possible for us to put on this event and deliver so much high-quality content.
We look forward to seeing you in London in October!
