Staff hosted various events for colleagues at the Council’s Plough Lane offices - along with sharing new insights into their work, and launching a new phase of the successful ‘Join us on our journey’ campaign aimed at recruiting children’s social care staff.

Councillor Carole Gandy, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, said: “It’s been a great opportunity to shine a light on the brilliant work social care professionals do, day in day out, which often goes unnoticed. Literally thousands of people enjoy a better quality of life and more independence because of the support and services our teams provide. By aiming to put individuals - who are often the most vulnerable in society - at the centre of every conversation, it gives people control and choice over their care and helps them stay well.”

Councillor Ivan Powell, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “We should all be grateful for the dedication and professionalism of social care staff and our many partners including in the community and voluntary sector, who keep children and young people safe and supported. They also give much needed support to parents and carers to help them provide the safe and stable family life children deserve. We know that more people of all ages need our support than ever before, but we’re determined to continue providing quality care with innovation, compassion and accountability. Social Work Week is a time we can all thank colleagues for what they do.”

Social care workers are a valued workforce in Herefordshire Council, supporting and protecting some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Feedback from service users highlights how valued they are by the people they support, and what a great difference they can make to their lives.

Adult Social Care is a statutory service, making a positive difference to thousands of people who need extra support and help across all Herefordshire, including the most vulnerable in society. The service commissions care at home or in specialist accommodation for almost 2,900 people a year and helps more than 6,000 adults in total. Innovative prevention approaches mean people can live well and as independently as possible, with choice and control over their care. This includes new technology, and physical improvements and adaptations, to more than 4,100 homes annually. A new visualisation highlights how the Council helped people in 2025.

Herefordshire Council’s Children’s and Young People’s social care is a service recently rated as ‘Good’ with ‘Outstanding’ Leadership by Ofsted. The successful first phase of its impactful ‘Join us on our journey’ recruitment campaign last year boosted the appointment of permanent staff by nearly 30%, giving children and young people and their families more continuity in their support and providing stability in the workforce - which made a significant contribution to the Ofsted finding. Phase two of the campaign is now underway with low cost digital and social media ads promoting opportunities to join the service in its few remaining vacancies. The campaign also highlights benefits like the county’s quality of life, career development opportunities, flexible working and more.