As our society evolves, so too must the models of care that support people at every stage of life. From childhood to old age, ensuring that people receive the right care at the right time is crucial for their wellbeing, independence, and quality of life. New approaches that prioritise personalisation, technology, and community-based support are transforming care services, making them more responsive and effective. 

The European Social Services Conference (ESSC) 2025, themed 'Where Care Meets Tech,' provides a vital platform for exploring these innovations and shaping the future of care. This year’s event, taking place in Aarhus, Denmark, from 22-25 June, will bring together leading experts, policymakers, and practitioners to explore innovative approaches to improve and develop care services. If you are committed to transforming lives through social care, then this conference should be part of your agenda!

Supporting families and children

Ensuring children and families receive the right support at the right time is crucial for fostering resilience and stability. The session, 'Welcome, You Came to the Right Place!' will explore Aarhus Municipality’s transition towards a relationship-centred approach to supporting families. By shifting from a system-centred model to one that prioritises trust, accessibility, and family empowerment, this session will provide valuable insights into early intervention strategies that can be applied across Europe.

Improving outcomes for children in care

Children in care deserve the best possible opportunities for growth and development. In line with this, Essex County Council, England will present an innovative approach to streamlining young people’s care recording systems. By co-designing digital solutions with care-experienced young people, the initiative improves communication with social workers and transparency in the care system, ensuring young people have greater ownership of their care journey. 

Hearing and learning directly from those people with lived experience is key to building care systems that can support young people effectively. Show Us You Care Too, who campaign to end stigma and discrimination of the Care Experienced community in the UK, will run a session in which panellists will share how they have processed their childhood care journeys and then went on to influence care reform and public policy. This session is essential for those looking to implement user-centred social care systems.

Supporting care leavers to independence

For young people leaving care, transitioning into independent life can be challenging. The City of Zagreb’s 'E-learning Preparing Young People for Independent Living' presentation will showcase an innovative digital learning platform developed in Croatia. Designed with input from care-experienced young people, this platform provides guidance on employment, housing, and financial management. Social care professionals, educators, and policymakers will gain insights into how digital tools can better equip care leavers for their future.

Long-Term Care: supporting people to remain independent 

The future of long-term care lies in personalised and tech-enabled solutions. Several sessions at ESSC 2025 will showcase pioneering approaches to supporting persons with long-term care needs to be autonomous for as long as possible.

• The City of Madrid and the Catalan Association of Municipalities will showcase AI-powered virtual assistants in Spain that are reducing social isolation among older people.
• The Active Ageing and Community Care in Malta will present a GPS tracking device for older persons with dementia that facilitates communication and sends alerts if the older person falls or goes beyond the set GPS geofencing, allowing the person to stay living at home for longer.
• NDTi will share insights into their Small Support Organisations that ensure an integrated, flexible and holistic approach to care for older persons and persons with disabilities to continue living independently.

Why Attend ESSC 2025?

ESSC 2025 is more than a conference—it is a platform for collaboration, learning, and action. By attending, you will engage with leading experts and policymakers shaping the future of social care and gain first-hand insights into innovative care solutions from across Europe

Whether you are a social services director, practitioner, policymaker, researcher, or advocate ESSC 2025 offers an unmissable opportunity to drive change and improve social services for all. Don’t miss out—register today and be part of shaping the future of social care!

For more information and to secure your place, visit ESSC 2025 Official Website.