Link Officers' Annual Meeting 2025: Workforce futures

• Overview
• Timings
• Speakers
• Booking
• Designed for
• About
• Link Officer Awards

Overview

Social care practitioners work in contexts where demand for services and support is high, and resources are limited. The intense pressure facing the UK social care workforce requires collective action and innovative solutions.   

This year’s Link Officers’ Annual Meeting (LOAM) will focus on how Link Officers can promote innovative and effective learning and development. LOAM gives colleagues from our Partner network the space to come together to consider the key issues, reflect among peers, and share knowledge and good practice.   

The two-day event will highlight research and showcase excellent practice through a varied programme of speakers, knowledge exchange and networking opportunities. We will consider:  

• What does a forward-facing look at the policy landscape mean for learning and development? 
• What do equitable approaches to learning and development look like? 
• What are the opportunities and limitations when using Artificial Intelligence for learning and development? 

LOAM will take place on 25 and 26 September in Birmingham and online on Zoom. This will be a hybrid event with the option to attend in-person or virtually. 

Online attendance - We are aware that some organisations may have a specific policy on using Zoom. Please ensure that you will be able to access Zoom from wherever you will be on the day of the conference, and consider using a personal email address or device if your organisational settings will restrict your access. 

Timings

Thursday 25 September  

Start 13.00 - End 16.30

Friday 26 September 

Start 09.30 - End 12.30 

Speakers

Speakers to be confirmed. 

Booking

As a Research in Practice Partner your attendance online and in-person (including meals and overnight accommodation on 25 September in Birmingham) is included in your organisational membership.   

• Each children & families Partner is allocated up to two places in-person and two places online.  
• Each adults Partner is allocated up to two places in-person and two places online.  

Request your place via your account using the button above.  

Please note, in-person places are limited and will be managed on a first come first served basis.   

Additional places for the online event may be available if capacity allows. Please note adding this event to your calendar does not confirm your place at this event. Further details, including the full programme, will be available closer to the event.   

Designed for

Link Officers, Strategic Champions, Principal Occupational Therapists and Principal Social Workers from across the Research in Practice Partner network.

About the Link Officers' Annual Meeting

Link Officers focus on embedding learning and development within their organisation and championing evidence-informed practice. LOAM brings together Link Officers, Principal Social Workers, Principal Occupational Therapists and Strategic Champions from across our network. One of our most popular recurring event LOAM offers a unique opportunity for Partners to share best practice, discuss emerging sector issues and to learn from one another.   

Link Officer Awards

In recognition of Link Officers’ efforts to support learning and development and championing evidence-informed practice, we will be presenting the annual Link Officer Awards at LOAM. Find out how to nominate your Link Officer.