Expanding our innovation support offer: What do you need to innovate in social care?
At Social Care Wales, we know that innovation doesn’t follow a single path. That’s why our innovation coaching service is always thinking about how best to meet the diverse needs of people working to improve social care across Wales.
Over the past few months, we’ve been experimenting with new ways to make innovation support more accessible and flexible. Here’s what we’ve been trying:
Drop-in coaching sessions
These are commitment-free, informal spaces where you can explore ideas, ask questions, or simply talk through a challenge.
We ran these for two months and found they were very helpful for the people who attended.
Training sessions
We’ve developed training to help people understand what innovation coaching is, and the kinds of skills and support it offers.
Whether you're new to innovation or looking to deepen your practice, these sessions are designed to build confidence and clarity.
We run these periodically. Our next sessions are planned for 2 and 9 December.
All of this is part of a wider effort to find the right kind of support for people innovating in social care. We know that what works for one person or team might not work for another, so we’re listening and learning.
What would help you most?
We’re keen to hear from you. If coaching, drop-ins and training aren’t quite what you need — what would be? Would you prefer:
- peer learning groups - these are small, collaborative groups where practitioners share experiences, challenges and ideas to learn from each other
- one-off coaching deep dives - focused sessions that explore a specific innovation challenge in depth, offering tailored guidance and solutions
- online resources or toolkits - Practical guides, templates and digital materials to help you plan, implement and evaluate innovative approaches
- or something else entirely?
Your feedback will help us shape a service that truly supports innovation in social care, wherever you are on your journey.
Get in touch with our Head of Innovation Capability and Coaching Angharad Dalton on angharad.dalton@socialcare.wales. We’d love to hear your thoughts.