WM-ADASS Branch and Directors of Adult Social Services

ADASS is a membership organisation for those working in adult social care. It is a charity that works with professionals, other organisations and people with lived experience to influence decision makers, policy and legislation – from the local to regional and national level. ADASS works to raise awareness of the benefits social care can bring to individuals and communities, and aim to ensure that everyone who needs care and support can live the lives we want regardless of age, ability and background.  

 ADASS commissioned an independent report entitled Time to Act: A Roadmap for Reforming Care and Support in England that identified 10 ‘Areas for action’ to help achieve a fairer care system over the next 10 years.

It was widely welcomed by those working in and drawing on care and support, and ADASS has since selected three key areas on which to focus its policy advocacy efforts:

You can read more about ADASS and its work here: Our policy priorities - ADASS

West Midlands ADASS is one of 9 regional groups or Branches across England.

The WM-ADASS Branch consists of 14 Directors of Adults Social Services or DASSs from the following councils:

  • Birmingham
  • Coventry
  • Dudley
  • Herefordshire
  • Sandwell
  • Shropshire
  • Solihull
  • Staffordshire
  • Stoke-on-Trent
  • Telford and Wrekin
  • Walsall
  • Warwickshire
  • Wolverhampton
  • Worcestershire

The Branch is supported by small team of salaried staff, volunteers and Associates, and Shropshire County Council kindly “host” the Branch, providing vital IT, Finance, HR and other support.

The Branch has a Chair and Vice-Chair, elected and rotated from the 14 DASSs across the region. WMADASS has a regularly reviewed plan and set of strategic priorities, a number of key standing Networks (for example, Commissioning, Workforce, Finance, Principal Social Workers, Safeguarding) as well as task and finish and Thematic Groups (for example, Learning Disability and Autism, Continuing Health Care). These groups may be led and Chaired/Co-Chaired by DASSs or Assistant Directors/Heads of Service in the main.