Incoming ADASS president highlights responsibility to be ‘honest with public’

Incoming president of the Association for Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) wants social care leaders to offer an honest and balanced view of social care to the public.

Although David Pearson wants the challenges faced by the sector to be accessible to the public, the new ADASS president wants this to be balanced with examples of the innovation and partnership being seen throughout services across the country to offer a rounded view of social care in the public eye.

He explained that despite social care leaders needing to make every pound stretch, ADASS believe it is still their responsibility to ensure basic terms conditions of employment are met.

Mr David Pearson said: “We have a responsibility to make the public purse go as far as it can. Our achievement in reducing our spend by £2.68 billion while at the same time implementing personalisation, supporting carers, tendering or re-tendering services, joining up services with the NHS, providing better advice, reducing infrastructure costs and exploring ways of building community capacity has been absolutely extraordinary.”

His calls come as an ADASS survey has revealed there is an increasingly clear responsibility for councils to understand the actual cost of care which they need to take into account when setting the price they pay for care.

He praised the work of social care workers, and said more needs to be done to offer fair working conditions and pay to ensure they are valued and supported in their daily roles.

He said: “When I visit particular services I always feel encouraged and humbled by the energy, commitment, care, determination and pride demonstrated by the people who work in our sector.

“Social workers are a key part of building the future whether it’s in integrated teams, leading safeguarding investigations, working alongside service users, or developing self-directed support.”

Mr Pearson started his social care career as a social worker in Nottinghamshire, and has replaced Sandie Keene as President of the ADASS, which represents directors and senior managers of adult social services departments in English local authorities.