From WM-ADASS team member Kieran Jones:
Welcome to my blog about the Carers Conference 2025. This is my first time attending an event as a WM-ADASS employee.
As well as being an employee, I am also a lived experience member. Having Autism and some mental health difficulties, I try to contribute to events as much as I can to try and shape the future of Adult Social Care.
This week I had the privilege of attending the WM-ADASS Carers Conference 2025, and well what can I say the event was amazing. It brought out all the continued challenges with direct payments but also brought up with quotes the positive impact that direct payments have on people’s lives.
The thing that stood out to me was the praise that Sam got, to quote “we all need a Sam” I can say that this is true. If every organisation had the passion, dedication, and enthusiasm that Sam had, then who knows what we could achieve.
Sam is an essential support person, keeping the connection and collaborative working between carers, social workers, and commissioners. Sam makes sure every day that the carers get the support they need through a kind, and caring nature. Putting the carers at the heart of everything she does.
It was lovely to see everyone getting along so well and coming together to celebrate something so close to everyone’s hearts. All the people in the room wanted was change! All they wanted was to make a difference!
This emphasises how important events like this are. No matter how long you have worked for the Local Authority, you don’t know everything. You always need to come together as a group to make a proper change and impact.
Another thing that stood out to me is, how positively direct payments affect people’s lives. As much as you want to you can’t care for your loved ones 24/7 all by yourself. You must relieve yourself of some of the pressure and stress by taking a break and taking time for yourself.
Whether that is flying a plane, or canoeing, doing what they enjoy does matter.
On reflection unpaid carers advised that they would like to know more about Carers Direct Payments from social workers , perhaps examples of where it’s worked well in the LA. , It would be great to hear it from all frontline staff such as OT’s, Community navigators etc. This was a surprise to me but that’s exactly why we have carers conference so we can identify areas for improvement as a region.
It was clear that the professionals in the room wanted to know more about Direct Payments and were eager to improve their knowledge. , The themes from the session which we gathered from the workshops that we undertook, 2 things have really stood out to me.
- That all people want is consistency as all local authorities do things differently.
- Staff want training to help them best fulfil their role; this is very positive signs going forward.
Every day is a learning day, and when someone is talking about something that you don’t understand the key message has to be teach me.
Finally, I would like to say a massive thank you for all the hard work of our organisers, speakers, and attendees. But also, to the venue for being wonderful hosts.
Without you all doing an amazing job we would not be able to make the difference. An old saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work. This is so accurate and meaningful. On our own we can make small changes, but together we can make massive changes to shape the future of tomorrow.
From WM-ADASS Improvement Director Pete Jackson
The Courage to Show Up: Reflections from the West Midlands Carers' Leads Conference
This quote stayed with me throughout the West Midlands ADASS Carers' Leads Conference. The day was a reminder that improving support for carers requires just that — showing up, listening deeply, and accepting that the way forward isn’t always clear, but progress depends on us being present.
We brought together carers, carers leads, social workers, commissioners, policy makers, and people with lived experience from across the region. The energy was tangible: stories shared, assumptions challenged, and experiences honoured.
Learning from Lived Experience
One of the most inspiring conversations I had was with a mother caring for four children — three with autism and one with a learning disability. Her positivity about her children and her role as a carer was matched by her activism. She sits on multiple forums, using her experiences to shape policy and practice. It was a humbling reminder that carers are not just people needing help — they are leaders and advocates in their own right.
A phrase that resonated through the day was:
“We all need a Sam.”
A Sam is that vital person who can navigate the space between carers, social workers, and commissioners — making the complex system of support clearer, kinder, and more accessible.
There was rich discussion about Direct Payments (DPs) and their transformative potential when used flexibly. The ‘chicken feed’ analogy captured this perfectly — sometimes a small amount of money can make all the difference, like buying feed for chickens that give a carer a reason to get up in the morning. Others mentioned air fryers, hairdresser appointments, even skydiving. It reinforced that personalisation means recognising that relief and wellbeing look different for everyone.
Yet, we still too often measure value in £ saved, rather than in the lived relief and joy these small supports bring. That’s a perspective we need to shift.
A poignant theme was the uncertainty carers face about the future — especially what happens when they can no longer care. One parent asked, “Who will care for my children when I’m gone?” It’s a question we cannot shy away from — we need systems that plan with families, not just for them.
I was personally touched by those who told me they’d followed my own cancer journey. It’s a reminder that our personal stories travel further than we think, and that connection is built in unexpected ways.
There was also recognition that health colleagues were notably absent from the room. Their perspectives are critical — especially when so much of caring is intertwined with health needs.
Towards Regional Principles
A clear call emerged: the need to co-produce regional principles for carers support — a foundation that all 14 West Midlands councils could adopt. Not a rigid model, but a shared commitment to:
Clear, transparent processes and eligibility criteria
Person-centred guidance and interpretation of the Care Act
Flexible, meaningful use of DPs
Emergency pathways for carers at risk of breakdown
A shift from valuing savings to valuing lived experiences
The Team That Made It Happen
A huge thank you to my colleagues Anna, Keymn, and Kieran, who made the day happen with such professionalism, energy, and compassion. They created a space where every voice mattered, where carers, commissioners, and practitioners could speak openly and leave with purpose.
Their dedication behind the scenes ensured that this wasn’t just a conference — it was a catalyst.
Final Thoughts
What I took away is simple: caring is undervalued, yet it makes the world go round. A little support can go a long way — but only if we keep showing up, listening, Participants from across the West Midlands — carers, carers leads, commissioners, and social workers — gathered with a shared commitment to improve support for carers across our region.and acting with humanity.
As Brené Brown says — we can’t control every outcome, but we can control our willingness to show up.