Reform, Urgency, and the Challenge of Permanently Resetting Social Care: Insights from NCASC 2025

We are just over two weeks past the National Children’s and Adults Social Care (NCASC) 2025 conference. As always, the event brought together expertise from across the social care sector. This year, however, NCASC carried a distinct theme: urgency, reform, and a renewed passion to both protect and transform social care. As Josh MacAlister challenged attendees, to seize this opportunity to permanently reset Social care in the country.

Like all conferences, the breadth of expertise on offer made it impossible to attend every session. What follows is a reflection on some of the sessions I attended, along with key takeaways and insights.

Starting the Conversation: Lived Experience in Social Care

One of NCASC’s greatest strengths is sparking meaningful conversations not just about improving systems, but about the lessons learned from lived experience and how these can drive positive change. The first major discussion segment, “From Care to Parenthood: The Journey of Lived Experience”, featured senior leaders from Dorset Council. It was a timely reminder of how essential lived expertise is in shaping better practice and policy.

Day 1: Passion, Insight, and the Need for Reform

The conference opening brought incredible energy and insight into the challenges facing social care: the urgent need for reform, the importance of early intervention, and the reminder that social care is not only for moments of crisis. A strong message emerged about protecting local authority budgets from profiteering.

Rachael Wardell captured the dedication and unwavering effort of social care staff with a powerful quote from Martin Luther King Jr.:

“We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.”

The afternoon maintained its momentum with sessions exploring why stories in adult social care matter, insights from the refreshed DASS guidance, and thought-provoking discussions on AI ethics and the responsible use of generative AI in adult social care.

Day 2: Reform, Apprenticeships, and Bold Plans

Day 2 began with Social Work England outlining plans to enhance social work training and support the next generation of social care professionals. The panel also highlighted how local authority apprenticeships are attracting more people to the profession, both locally and across wider communities, pointing out areas for further support and improvement.

Ofsted followed with bold plans for change, including the removal of single-worded judgement grading from April 2026, to be replaced by more nuanced report card-style assessments detailing how a local authority is performing across multiple services. This approach was widely welcomed by the audience.

Stephen Kinnock offered a clever Bournemouth FC analogy, reminding us that progress isn’t always about who spends the most. He emphasized that adult social care reform should focus on increasing choice and control, creating joined-up neighbourhood services, and improving overall quality of care. He also stressed urgency, warning that this may be the sector’s last real chance to address the crisis.

Josh MacAlister, MP and Minister for Children and Families, challenged the sector to seize this moment to permanently reset social care in England. While changes to DfE statutory guidance were not yet confirmed, he noted that once the bill receives Royal Assent, implementation will move swiftly, increasing transparency, curbing profiteering, and potentially introducing a profit cap.

The day closed with an insightful session on Birmingham’s journey to improve support for children, young people, and families across Europe’s largest council invaluable for anyone working to strengthen children’s services in the West Midlands.

Day 3: Children’s Social Care Reform in Focus

Day 3 ended with a powerful session on the progress and future direction of children’s social care reform. The Department for Education outlined four core principles guiding reform:

🔹 Prevention
🔹 Support
🔹 Fixing the market
🔹 Key enablers

Delegates heard about progress so far, the upcoming Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Reform Bill, and how the Families First Partnership Programme aims to shift the system toward meaningful early help as we move into year two of delivery in April 2026.

It was particularly valuable to engage directly with the Deputy Director, raising questions about how local authorities can be better supported with clearer guidance and more comparable data.

A thoughtful DCS perspective highlighted the challenge of balancing reform, improvement plans, and business as usual, raising a critical question: is 5% of senior leadership time on reform really enough?

Redbridge’s AD and DCS closed the session with inspiring insights on delivering the Family Partnership Programme, the realities of local implementation, and the outcomes already emerging. Their reflections left the room eager to hear even more.

In Summary: A Sector Ready for Change

NCASC 2025 showcased ambitious plans, urgent priorities, and a sector full of people dedicated to improving outcomes across social care. 2026 promises to be a period of continued reform and significant change, but if delivered with the passion and expertise displayed at the conference, it could not only permanently reset social care but also create a stronger, more sustainable system for the future.