Celebrating Portsmouth's diverse community in special series of seminars

A series of hybrid seminars delivered by local and external experts for adult and children's social care at Portsmouth City Council, celebrated the city's diverse community, and the practitioners who support them.

To coincide with World Social Work Day 2024, Portsmouth's social care workforce came together to learn and network. Each seminar was themed around a topic which included anti-racist practice, centring queer voices and neurodiversity.

Practitioners also had an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues across different services during a special open room session.

Councillor Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council said:

"World Social Work Day is an important date in the profession's calendar, and an opportunity for colleagues in Portsmouth to assemble and learn from each other.

"The city is well-known for its partnerships with local experts who help communities thrive. Each expert will share their own life experiences which will help practitioners develop new ways to support children, young people and families."

Social care practitioners could choose either an in person or online session to attend as part of a seminar programme delivered on Tuesday 19 March 2024.

Presentations included Millie Kerr, strategic anti-racist lead at Brighton and Hove Council. Millie has had a career in social work spanning three decades.

For the past four years, she has led on anti-racism at the council and delivers training on anti-racist practice, cultural competence and humility, racial equity and intersectionality.

Other speakers included Kevin Holmes, who shared his experience of being a volunteer in Portsmouth. Kevin has had a physical disability since birth and has been a volunteer in Portsmouth for more than 40 years, helping to set up both the Frank Sorrell Centre and the Dove Centre.

He was joined by Patrick Saunders, Room One facilitator, who offers support to autistic and neurodivergent adults across Portsmouth.

Sarah Daly, director, children, families and education at Portsmouth City Council said:

"I would like thank our speakers for sharing their experiences with our social care teams. Continuing professional development is an important part of what we offer throughout the year at Portsmouth City Council.

"World Social Work Day provides a timely reminder that our communities are the ones who guide our work and the support we offer. By bringing two different areas of social work together, we can also learn from each other."

Portsmouth City Council offer continuing professional development for social workers across the year, including Research in Practice, Knowledge Hub and an extensive training programme linked to their career pathway.

For more information on working in children's social care, click here.