Second consecutive year of partnership reflects the growing role of digital in supporting people and shaping the future of social care in Wales 

ADSS Cymru is delighted to announce that DiSC Cymru will return as Main Conference Partner for the National Social Care Conference 2026 (NSCC26), marking the second consecutive year of partnership between Wales’ flagship social care conference and the national digital transformation programme for social care. 

Taking place on 21 and 22 October 2026 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, this year’s conference theme, Times Like These: People, Pride and Purpose in Social Care, recognises the people at the heart of social care and creates space to reflect on both the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Across two days, leaders, practitioners, people with lived experience, partners and policymakers will come together to share ideas, celebrate success and explore what comes next for social care in Wales.

At first glance, a people-focused conference and a digital programme may seem like different conversations. In reality, they are increasingly one and the same. DiSC Cymru was established to help social care organisations across Wales harness the power of digital, data and technology to improve outcomes for people who use care and support services, their families, unpaid carers and the workforce. Its vision is simple: Better Digital. Better Social Care. Better Lives. Through collaborative working, innovation and knowledge sharing, the programme supports organisations to build confidence, embrace new approaches and develop services that are more effective, person-centred and resilient. 

As the programme has become established, conversations about digital transformation have moved beyond technology itself. Increasingly, the focus is on how digital tools can support people: helping social care professionals to do their jobs effectively, improving access to information, strengthening decision-making and contributing to better experiences for those giving and receiving care. This year’s conference theme reflects that evolution. The return of DiSC Cymru as Main Conference Partner is therefore more than a partnership announcement. It reflects the growing recognition that digital transformation is not a standalone agenda. It is an important enabler of workforce wellbeing, service improvement, leadership, collaboration and better outcomes for communities across Wales. 

That development is reflected throughout the NSCC26 programme. Delegates will hear directly from DiSC Cymru during the conference opening sessions, while digital thinking and innovation are woven through wider discussions about workforce development, future services, leadership and collaboration. Digital capability is increasingly part of how social care responds to changing needs, supports its workforce and creates sustainable services for the future. 

Lindsey Phillips, Chief Digital Officer at the Welsh Local Government Association and Senior Responsible Owner for DiSC Cymru, said: 

‘We are delighted to be returning as Main Conference Partner for the National Social Care Conference for a second consecutive year. That continued partnership reflects the progress being made through DiSC Cymru and, more importantly, the growing recognition across Wales that digital transformation is ultimately about people.

Social care is facing significant challenges, but we also have an opportunity to harness digital, data and technology in ways that support the workforce, strengthen services and improve outcomes for the people who rely on care and support every day. The theme of this year’s conference, People, Pride and Purpose, resonates strongly with our work. Technology should never be an end in itself. Its purpose is to help people do their jobs more effectively, enable better decisions, reduce unnecessary barriers and create more time for meaningful human connections. 

As DiSC Cymru has evolved, we have moved beyond talking about digital as a separate agenda. It is increasingly part of how we think about leadership, workforce development, collaboration and service improvement. We are looking forward to joining colleagues from across Wales in Cardiff and continuing those important conversations.’ 

Sarah Day MBE, ADSS Cymru Business Delivery Unit Lead, said: 

‘We are incredibly pleased to welcome DiSC Cymru back as our Main Conference Partner for NSCC26. 

Over the past two years, we have seen digital innovation become an increasingly important part of conversations across the social care sector. What is particularly encouraging is that those conversations are now much less about technology itself and much more about how we support people, whether that is citizens receiving services, unpaid carers or the social care workforce. 

This year’s conference programme reflects that shift. While our focus is firmly on people, pride and purpose, digital thinking is woven throughout many of the discussions taking place over the two days. From workforce development and leadership to service redesign and future sustainability, digital capability has become an important enabler of better social care. 

The return of DiSC Cymru as our Main Conference Partner reflects both the maturity of the programme and our shared commitment. Together, we are helping to create a future where innovation and technology work hand in hand with the values that define social care: compassion, relationships and a commitment to improving lives.’ 

The conference programme explores themes including workforce development, digital innovation, prevention, community wellbeing and collaborative leadership. These priorities closely align with DiSC Cymru’s work to support organisations across Wales as they navigate change and identify opportunities to improve outcomes through technology and innovation. 

As delegates gather in Cardiff this October, they will see this reflected not only in dedicated digital content but across the wider programme. The message is clear: digital is not separate from social care’s future. It is part of the fabric of how the sector continues to support people well. 

As social care in Wales continues to adapt to new challenges and opportunities, partnerships like this help ensure that conversations about technology remain grounded in what matters most: supporting people to live well, enabling professionals to do their jobs effectively and creating services that are fit for the future. 

ADSS Cymru is proud to welcome DiSC Cymru back as Main Conference Partner and looks forward to showcasing this important work throughout NSCC26.