Communities of practice
There are nine communities of practice (CoPs) in East Midlands. They bring together people who have shared common goals or interests. The CoPs can be sources of knowledge, learning and support but they often carry out pieces of work on behalf of the branch.
For more information on any of our communities of practice, email em-adassadmin@nottscc.gov.uk
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)
Brings together leads from local authorities, health and other stakeholders to look at deprivation of liberty practice and process.
Lead:
Carl O’Riordan, Derbyshire
Continuing healthcare
Continuing healthcare leads from each local authority focus on developing a range of strategies which support the award of appropriate healthcare funding for people who are eligible.
Lead:
David Stevens, East Midlands ADASS Branch
Learning disability and autism
A large community of practice including health and social care professionals and people with lived experience. Together, they look at policy and practice issues relating to learning disability and autism, including transforming care.
Lead:
Matthew Jenkins, North Northamptonshire supported by Claire Bruin (Regional Learning Disability and Autistic People Lead)
Operational pressures
A forum for local authority contract managers to share intelligence about current market supply and sufficiency issues.
Lead:
Jude Emberson, East Midlands ADASS branch
Carers
Brings together carer leads from health and social care across the Midlands. Currently focusing on sharing best practice and learning from the Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF) carer projects.
Lead:
Hayley Eccles, Lincolnshire
Jude Boyle, Derbyshire
Principal occupational therapists
Focused on connecting with the national network, sharing best practice and promoting the quality and role of occupational therapists in social care.
Lead:
Cate Bennett, Derby City
Safeguarding
A forum for safeguarding leads from the local authorities. They share best practice and choose areas to focus on. In 2023/24 they looked at safeguarding adults reviews and their impact on local practice.
Lead:
Gemma Poulter, Derbyshire
Co-production
The group looks at how well co-production is working across the region. They have commissioned some work on how we can improve our coproduction both regionally and locally and the report will be published in autumn.
Lead:
Sue Whetton, Derbyshire
Digital and technology
A forum for local authority technology and digital leads to promote best use of technology and innovation alongside digital social care records and the digital switchover.
Lead:
Andy Appleyard, Derby City