Assessing Complexity in Complex Cases: lessons from research and practice

Date: Wednesday 26th November (Full day On Campus Workshop)

Target Audience: Frontline adult social care staff in first contact settings. Adult social care assessors. Adult social care providers.

Overview: 

Defensible decision making; legal literacy in adult social care. 
Half day online seminar.

Date: Wednesday 21st January 2026 (half day – online 0930 – 1230)

Target Audience: Assessors and decision makers in adult social care settings.

Overview: 

This is a half day online seminar. 

Legal, ethical and evidential reasoning will be the focus. Drawing from the work of a range of academics and legal experts (such as Michael Preston-Shoot, Suzy Braye and Alex Ruck Keane), we will explore the dimensions that make up legally, ethically defensible decisions in practice with adults.

Facilitated by specialist staff from SHU, this will be an opportunity to draw together the learning from recent case law and safeguarding adult’s reviews and reflect on the implications for decision making in adult social care.

Strengths based approaches to supporting wellbeing: co-production, technology enhanced care and the duty to prevent needs.

Date: Wednesday 15th October (half day – online 0930 – 1230)

Target Audience: Frontline adult social care staff in first contact settings. Adult social care assessors. Adult social care providers.

Overview: 

Exploring the challenges of fulfilling the duty to prevent needs in the context of shrinking resources, we will explore examples of innovative practice (including technology enhanced care) and create opportunities to explore practice issues with peers too.

NEW - Trauma Informed Practice in Organisations
Half day online seminar.

Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026

Target audience: All staff with roles in adult social care settings (assessors, service providers)

Overview: Join us for an enlightening teaching session tailored for social workers on trauma-informed practice. In this session, you will gain invaluable insights into understanding and effectively responding to trauma within your practice. Learn evidence-based strategies, compassionate approaches, and practical techniques to create safe and empowering environments for individuals impacted by trauma. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the field, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance your practice and make a meaningful difference in practice.

Diversity, Equalities and Inclusion in Adult Social Care: meeting the needs of marginalised groups.  
Half day online seminar.

Date: Wednesday 21st May 2025

Target audience: All staff with roles in adult social care settings (assessors, service providers).

Overview: This is a half day online seminar.
Messages from research and from safeguarding adults’ reviews reveal a number of issues that impact upon access to help for members of several different and intersecting marginalised groups. This includes LGBTQ people, asylum seekers, and people who identify as neurodiverse. 
This seminar will bring together some key messages from research, case law and SARs along with some expert speakers to explore distinctive experiences and lessons to be learned for assessors and providers. 

Diversity, Equalities and Inclusion in Adult Social Care: meeting the needs of marginalised groups.  
Half day online seminar.

Date: Wednesday 20tht May 2026

Target audience: All staff with roles in adult social care settings (assessors, service providers).

Overview: This is a half day online seminar.
Messages from research and from safeguarding adults’ reviews reveal a number of issues that impact upon access to help for members of several different and intersecting marginalised groups. This includes LGBTQ people, asylum seekers, and people who identify as neurodiverse. 
This seminar will bring together some key messages from research, case law and SARs along with some expert speakers to explore distinctive experiences and lessons to be learned for assessors and providers. 

NEW - Executive Functioning and the Mental Capacity Act
Half day online seminar.

Date: Wednesday 25th June 2025

Target audience: All staff with roles in adult social care settings (assessors, service providers).

Overview: Discover the intricate interplay between executive function in adults and the Mental Capacity Act in our upcoming teaching session. Designed for professionals in social care, this session delves into the complexities of decision-making, planning, and cognitive control in adults. Explore how executive function impacts an individual’s ability to make informed choices and understand the legal frameworks outlined in the Mental Capacity Act. Gain practical insights into assessing and supporting individuals with diverse cognitive abilities, while navigating ethical dilemmas and legal obligations. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or new to the field, this session offers valuable tools and strategies to enhance your practice and ensure the autonomy and well-being of people you work with.

NEW - Executive Functioning and the Mental Capacity Act
Half day online seminar.

Date: Wednesday 24th June 2026

Target audience: All staff with roles in adult social care settings (assessors, service providers).

Overview: Discover the intricate interplay between executive function in adults and the Mental Capacity Act in our upcoming teaching session. Designed for professionals in social care, this session delves into the complexities of decision-making, planning, and cognitive control in adults. Explore how executive function impacts an individual’s ability to make informed choices and understand the legal frameworks outlined in the Mental Capacity Act. Gain practical insights into assessing and supporting individuals with diverse cognitive abilities, while navigating ethical dilemmas and legal obligations. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or new to the field, this session offers valuable tools and strategies to enhance your practice and ensure the autonomy and well-being of people you work with.

Working with people with Hoarding Behaviour: the interface between capacity, safeguarding and the multi-agency context. 
Half day online seminar

Date: Wednesday 16th July 2025

Target audience: Local Authority Adult Social Care, Housing, Clinical Commissioning group, NHS and third sector agencies/ staff.

Overview: This half day masterclass will explore importance of recognising and exploring the complexity of engaging with and supporting people with hoarding behaviours. Discussing the legal issues regarding consent, decisional and executive capacity, and the interface with safeguarding the session will explore the support for practitioners when engaging with supporting people with hoarding behaviours.  Learning from safeguarding adult reviews the focus will be on sharing good practice, identifying some of the challenges and sharing ideas for taking practice forwards.  

Working with people with Hoarding Behaviour: the interface between capacity, safeguarding and the multi-agency context. 
Half day online seminar

Date: Wednesday 15th July 2026

Target audience: Local Authority Adult Social Care, Housing, Clinical Commissioning group, NHS and third sector agencies/ staff.

Overview: This half day masterclass will explore importance of recognising and exploring the complexity of engaging with and supporting people with hoarding behaviours. Discussing the legal issues regarding consent, decisional and executive capacity, and the interface with safeguarding the session will explore the support for practitioners when engaging with supporting people with hoarding behaviours.  Learning from safeguarding adult reviews the focus will be on sharing good practice, identifying some of the challenges and sharing ideas for taking practice forwards.