Case Study

NW ADASS Antiracism Programme

Shifting systemic power dynamics and accountability structures in social care systems across the North West.

Context

The North West Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (NW ADASS) sought to translate antiracism principles into active, day-to-day practice and accountability frameworks across Bolton, Trafford, Oldham, Sefton, and other North West localities. The objective was to move past standard bias workshops into structural change.

Diagnostic

We formulated a collaborative, multi-locality baseline assessment. This mapped current representation statistics, identified structural hurdles to promotions for ethnic minority staff, and surfaced areas where organizational practices inadvertently sustained systemic inequality.

Intervention

We structured a locality-based leadership development programme. This involved cohort-based reflective circles, diagnostic toolkits for senior leaders, and accountability grids designed to track shifts in recruitment, development, and system policy. The conversations explicitly targeted race, power, and privilege.

Outcome

The programme successfully engaged senior leadership tiers across North West social care networks. It resulted in revised recruitment criteria, established transparent career development paths, and led to the formal integration of anti-racist accountability metrics in regional performance reviews.