SDS National Voice 2025
Date: 19 March 2025
Time: 09.30 am - 4.30pm
Location: Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), Edinburgh and online
SDS National Voice is Scotland’s only national conference dedicated to Self-Directed Support.
Following our successful return to an in-person conference in 2024, in 2025 we’ll be back at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre for a day packed with presentations, discussion, workshops and networking opportunities.
For those who prefer to take part in the conference online, the main presentations will be live-streamed and there will be a choice of hybrid workshops to take part in.
Programme
In 2025 our theme is “Challenge, connect, collaborate”. At a time when the wider landscape around social care support in Scotland grows ever more challenging, we’ll be reflecting on how closer partnership working across the sector is enabling us to challenge each other, connect, and collaborate to work towards the change we need to see.
With the original vision of the National Care Service considerably scaled back, and following the findings of the parliamentary Post-Legislative Scrutiny into the SDS Act, we’ll be taking stock of where we are now. We’ll hear examples of where challenging, connecting and collaborating are helping the sector to maintain a focus on achieving the principles of Self-directed Support.
You can look forward to a packed programme of presentations, discussions and workshops across the day, as well as the chance to network with colleagues from across Scotland. Full details of the programme will be announced soon.
09:30 – 10:10 : In-person registration
10:00 – 10:10 : Online event opens
10:10 – 10:35 : Welcome from event hosts Donald Macleod and Becs Barker
10:35 – 11:00 : Keynote: Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Maree Todd MSP
11:00 – 11:40 : Panel discussion
11:40 – 12:00 : Break
12:00 – 13:00 : Workshops round 1
Delegates will be able to attend two workshops during the conference, with workshops repeated 3.00 – 4.00pm. Workshop details will be announced soon and those who have booked tickets already asked to choose their preference.
13:00 – 13:45 : Lunch
13:45 – 14:15 : Presentation: Learning from the SDS Learning and Improvement Framework
We’ll be joined by representatives from Local Authorities who have piloted the new SDS Learning and Improvement Framework. The framework, facilitated by Social Work Scotland and Healthcare Improvement Scotland, has been designed to help Local Authorities reflect on their implementation of Self-directed Support and identify pathways to improvement.
14:15 – 14:45 : Presentation: Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living
Pauline Boyce, CEO of Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living shares learning from GCIL’s work in supporting people to access SDS, and reflects on the power of partnership and collaboration to improve the the delivery of social care support in Scotland.
14:45 – 15:00 : Break
15:00 – 16:00 : Workshops round 2
The workshops will be repeated to allow delegates to attend a second session. Workshop details will be announced soon and those who have already booked tickets asked to choose their preferred session.
16:00 – 16:25 : Performance
To bring the day to a close we’ll have a performance from an artistic group – more details announced soon.
16:25 – 16:30 : Event close
Information stands
We will have a dedicated marketplace area available throughout the conference, with opportunities to promote your service or project, and reach an audience of people from across Scotland working in the social care support sector.
If you are interested in hosting an information stand please leave your details on our contact form.
Accessibility
We aim to make the event accessible for all those who wish to attend. You can find information about accessibility at the EICC venue on their website: https://www.eicc.co.uk/visiting/disability-access/
Please let us know when you place your order if you have any accessibility needs.
BSL interpretation – if you require BSL please let us know by 21 February 2025 to ensure we can book interpreters. Auto-generated captions will also be available for those attending online.
If you need support to register please contact us at info@sdsscotland.org.uk or 0131 475 2623.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about the conference please get in touch: info@sdscotland.org.uk
Book a space via Eventbrite