Reflecting on the first Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standard conference

Oonagh Smyth, our CEO, reflects on the first SC-WRES event which was held recently in London.

On Wednesday 7 May 2025, I took part in the first Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standard (SC-WRES) conference in partnership with the Greater London Authority (GLA) Health and Wellbeing Team. The conference was held in London’s City Hall, which is the headquarters of the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, and marked the publication of the SC-WRES 2024 report. The choice was made to host the event here as 19 London local authorities signed up to the SC-WRES Improvement Programme in the past 12 months and due to the commitment from the GLA to support the event with us in partnership. In future years, to launch the SC-WRES report, we hope to move the conference across England.

The conference was skilfully facilitated by Co-chairs of the Independent Advisory Group for SC-WRES (IAG), Tricia Pereira and Godfred Boahen. The IAG is an advisory group composed entirely of global majority social care professionals, leaders, academics and authors including people drawing on care and support. The IAG represents both adult social care and children’s social care.

I was joined onstage to share the report findings by board member Beverley Tarka, who shared some really honest reflections, especially around some of the more challenging findings. Other keynote speakers included Robert Lewis, who attended on behalf of Sarah McClinton, the Chief Social Worker for Adults and Mental Health, and Tunde Olayinka, who is Executive Director, Community and Skills at the GLA. Tunde talked about the importance of the SC-WRES improvement programme and shared details of the work they’re doing in the authority.

The morning session ended with delegates joining workshops where they could find out more about the SC-WRES and its impact, how the Workforce Strategy is driving action on equality, diversity and inclusivity or find out more about current antiracist initiatives including the Racial Equity and Leadership (REAL) Programme, Moving Up and BALI.

The conference also heard from both local authority early adopters of SC-WRES and those who had joined the improvement programme for the first time in 2024. A common theme across the day was that whilst the data is important, it’s only a stepping stone supporting organisations to recognise racism and inequality in organisations. It is the overall SC-WRES Improvement Programme, including monthly Community of Practice sessions and action plans where much of the change is and will be happening. There was recognition that meaningful change can only happen through a collaborative approach to addressing the issues highlighted in the report. There were some helpful challenges and cautions on representation not being enough, the focus needs to be on making sure that everybody has a sense of belonging and enabling everyone to feel confident in their roles.

Attendees at the conference generously shared some of the EDI initiatives which they are implementing or have already implemented as a result of participating in the SC-WRES programme. There was a focus on proactive inclusive recruitment practices, including a commitment from one of the participants that if they found themselves in a position with an all-white shortlist, they would go back out and advertise again.

There were some interesting perspectives shared around learning and development, with a focus on leadership and how senior leaders can support global majority colleagues to reach their full potential.

Some participants shared how they have supported colleagues who had experienced discrimination inside and outside of their organisation. They also discussed the importance of ensuring that managers have the confidence and competence to support those experiencing discrimination in their teams.

This was a complex event that touched on some very sensitive but important issues, so thanks to everyone who contributed to what was a meaningful and successful conference.

We’re inviting local authorities to register now for phase three of the SC-WRES improvement programme.

Find out more about the SC-WRES improvement programme and how to register.

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