The National Children and Adult Services Conference marks six months into my presidency at the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and offers us all a time to reflect on how far we have come this year and the road ahead.

One of my key presidential priorities has been to shift the dominant narrative about social care to a focus on prevention and care at home. Our Autumn Survey showed this is overwhelmingly supported by our director members, with 86% saying they need more extra-care housing in their areas, 90% more Shared Lives capacity and 97% more specialist housing for people living with dementia.