Kingston and C-SWIR Joint Social Work Conference 2026
Evidence and innovation in adult and children’s residential care - Kingston and Sussex CSWIR Joint Social Work Conference 2026
Date: 20 May 2026 – 9.30 – 13.00
Venue: Online (Zoom)
Please note: if your organisation does not support the use of Zoom, you will need to register and log-in via your personal email account. Please notify the event administrator at SocSci-ResearchTeam@sussex.ac.uk
About the conference: Residential care continues to play a vital role in supporting children, young people, and adults with complex needs, while facing renewed scrutiny and calls for reform. In this online conference, we bring together national and international speakers to explore the latest evidence and innovation shaping residential care practice. The event will consider how research, policy, and practice intersect to improve outcomes and reimagine the purpose and potential of residential care.
The conference is free to attend for participants who register.
Chair: Professor Malcolm Payne, Kingston University
Schedule:
9.30 – 9.45 Chair, speakers and organisers join
10:00 – 10:10 Welcome and introduction (Prof Malcolm Payne)
Session 1
10:10 –11:25 Q&A for Session 1 speakers
11:25 - 11:35 Comfort break
Session 2
11:35 - 12:25
12:25 – 12:45 Q&A for Session 2 speakers
12.45 – 12.50 Closing remarks (Prof Malcolm Payne)
12.55 – 13.00 Close
Confirmed speakers
Chair – Professor Malcolm Payne, Kingston University
Prof Lisa Holmes, Professor in Applied Social Science, University of Sussex. International perspectives on children’s residential care. Lisa Holmes | About | University of Sussex
Emmanuel Akpan-Inwang, Director, Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust. Introducing a degree-level qualification route for residential childcare. Our people - Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust
Prof Rick Hood, Professor of Social Work, Kingston University. Stability and outcomes for children in children’s homes in England: new evidence to inform policy and practice. Professor Rick Hood | Kingston University London
Dr Olivia Luijnenburg, Kings College, London. Spiritual care for people living with dementia in care homes. Olivia Luijnenburg | King's College London
Dr Sally Nieman. Social work practice with older people in care homes
Prof Susan Braedley, Professor Emeritus. Carleton University, Ottowa, and Dr Christine Streeter, York University, Toronto. Unpaid care in “good” systems: Care home contradictions from Canada, Norway and Australia. Susan Braedley - School of Social Work