The conference’s theme will be “celebrating diversity; challenging inequality” and will include a range of keynote speeches and workshops, with the aim of sharing best practice and further improving services for Wolverhampton’s vulnerable children, young people, families and adults with care and support needs.
Ify Nwokoro, a disability awareness spokesperson and blogger, will share his lived experience of social work and inequality. Ify describes himself as “just a young black man in a wheelchair with a story to tell”. He works with the National Advisory Forum, which acts as a critical friend to Social Work England.
Elly Chapple, a thought-provoking writer and speaker and also the Founder of Can Do Ella and #flipthenarrative, will be speaking about what she has learnt from her daughter Ella, who has special educational needs. She advocates for people to change how we see and talk about disability.
The afternoon will see a range of speakers including Wayne Reid from the British Association of Social Workers who will be talking about anti-racist social work, Dr Jess Taylor who will discuss women and victim blaming and Kate Hutchinson who will be talking about supporting people from the trans community.
Councillor Beverley Momenabadi, the council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, and Councillor Linda Leach, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, will also be in attendance.
Councillor Momenabadi said: "The conference is a fantastic opportunity to bring together social workers from across children's and adults services virtually to share best practice – and to celebrate the brilliant work they do for our city's most vulnerable individuals and families.”
Councillor Leach added: "This year’s theme is so important and the various speakers, many of whom will be sharing their personal experiences, will give frontline professionals additional insight and knowledge that will help support them in their role, as well as plenty of opportunities for reflection and learning.
“The conference will also give Councillor Momenabadi and I the chance to say a massive thank you to the hundreds of professionals who work tirelessly for our city’s children and young people, families and adults with care and support needs.”
To read Ify Nwokoro’s blog, please visit My Life In A Chair.
