Celebrating our strengths
Awards and good news
Organisational Health Check 2024 to 2025
In Adult Social Care we have a long-standing commitment to seeking feedback from staff and undertake an Organisational Health check approximately every 2 years. The results are published on the Council's Adult Social Care public webpages. This commenced in 2017 to 2018.
Throughout all the Organisational Health Checks undertaken, response analysis has shown we have consistently had positive responses to our professional development opportunities, support received and positive working cultures.
In 2024 to 2025, responses included:
- 84% of staff agree there are relevant Continued Professional Development opportunities
- 84% get regular feedback/updates from managers
- 95% know and recognise partly or all of Adult Social Care Management Team
- 79% feel able to raise concerns with managers
- 89% feel able to raise concerns about workloads
- 89% feel have sufficient autonomy to practice creatively with service users
Angela's career journey in Adult Social Care
I started working at Eric Williams House (internal care home provider for people with dementia) in 2017 on a relief contract, this swiftly became a full-time support worker position and progressed to their first Activities Co-ordinator role.
Whilst I enjoyed my time with the residents and developing the role at Eric Williams House, I became aware that I wanted to develop my skills and my knowledge further. Support work had been my life since the age of 16 and I have adapted my work to look after my family and raise my children. They soon became of an age where I could start to think about my career and how I could move this forward.
I initially applied for the Community Case Worker (CCW) and was offered a job as a CCW in the Intake Team in Adult Social Care.
I have been with the team for coming up to three years now, the team are very supportive as are the team leaders and managers. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenges that we face and the diversity of the work that we see in the Intake Team. I enjoy learning from my more experienced peers and social workers and finding solutions to what can be challenging situations for the people that we are supporting.
I also have a caring role at home for my son who is autistic and my mother-in-law who is 84. When I feel that the time is right, I would like to consider progressing further with a social work degree. Adult Social Care is very supportive of career progression and provide these opportunities for those who wish to progress further.
Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) Annual Report 2024 to 2025
We have produced our first Annual Report which we hope will aim to increase understanding of the role by providing information about what Approved Mental Health Professionals are, what we do and our legal requirements. This is a report based on Mental Health Act assessments undertaken by Coventry Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) during the year 2024 to 2025.
Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) are registered professionals (social workers, nurses, occupational therapists, or psychologists) who have undertaken additional training. AMHPs are (amongst other duties) responsible for setting up and coordinating assessments under the Mental Health Act and, if necessary, making applications to detain (“section”) people in hospital for assessment and treatment of their mental health needs.
The report will be published on our Adult Social Care webpages.
Social Work Degree Level Apprenticeship - third cohort graduates!
Over the recent years, to meet the increased demand in social care, the routes to becoming a qualified Social Worker has increased and varied. One of these is the Social Work Degree Level Apprenticeship, this is a 3-year course, and the focus is on both academic and practice development. In 2019 Coventry Adults and Children enrolled their first cohort of apprentices at Coventry University and have since continued to offer and support this opportunity.
In 2024 we had 1 Adult Social Care apprentice graduate, Joanne Unsworth, who was in the last cohort at the Coventry University. We currently have 6 apprentices who completed the SW Degree Apprenticeship, seven currently on the course at Warwick University and 4 awaiting to undertake a course in September 2025.
Joanne said:
"The Apprenticeship Degree enabled me to build on my existing skills whilst developing them through academic study and bringing theory into practice. It (my graduation) was a truly fantastic day and I feel honoured to have been given the opportunity to complete my degree through the Apprentice route. Without the support from Coventry I would never have had the chance to study and achieve a Degree.”
We are also pleased to be supporting the Occupational Therapy Degree Level Apprenticeship with 3 members of staff undertaking the degree.
Adults Services wellbeing event
Adult Services held a 4th wellbeing event in 2025, and this year changed from a week to a month to allow as many staff as possible to engage and benefit.
The month was organised as an opportunity to reflect on our own wellbeing and perhaps learn some new ways of looking after ourselves and our health. It was in recognition of the hard work, commitment and efforts staff put into their job. This was also a brilliant way of showing appreciation and value, by focusing an entire month on the importance of their wellbeing.
There were a variety of sessions on offer which included virtual sessions focusing on learning new skills, boosting well-being and how to prevent burnout. Community Care Inform and Care Knowledge shared a host of well-being tools, research and tips on maintaining good physical and mental health. There were also appointment-based sessions for nutrition and blood pressure/ cholesterol levels. The event was well received, and the plan is for this to be an ongoing annual staff event, seeking feedback from staff on how future events will be organised.
Principal Social Worker Annual Report
Most areas have a Principal Social Worker for Adults and Children’s, supported by national and regional networks. The Care Act 2014 says local authorities should make arrangements to have a ‘qualified and registered social work professional practice lead’ in place. In support of ensuring visibility for the role and celebrating achievements, our Adult's Principal Social Worker, Andrew Errington, has produced a 6th annual report.