The Local Authority Social Worker and Housing Welfare Officer Conference

Front Row – Marion Murphy, Pauline Bracken, Danny McIlhinney, Second Row – Mary O’Sullivan, Derry O’Donovan, Back Row – Maureen Ryan, Nollaig McCarthy, Ann Lucey, Tony Kemp

The Local Authority Social Worker and Housing Welfare Officer Conference was hosted jointly by Cork County and Cork City Councils.

The conference “Challenging Times” was held on the 9th, 10th and 11th November in Maryborough House Hotel and was officially opened by the Lord Mayor, Deirdre Clune and welcomed to Cork by Stephen Kearney, Director of Housing, Cork City Council.

More than sixty delegates from most local authorities throughout the country attended. The conference was organised by Derry O’Donovan, Maureen Ryan and Denis Breen from City Council along with Nollaig McCarthy, Ann Lucey and Muriel Moloney from the County Council. Management from both authorities sponsored the conference along with the support and attendance of Denis Manning, Nicola Kenny and Louise O’Sullivan from Housing Allocations.

Danny McIlhinney (Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government) spoke on Government Policy and Traveller Statistics.

Tony Kemp (HSE) presented a paper on “Who is defining Social Work? Quality vs. Quantity

Followed by Pauline Bracken’s “Challenge to Change”.

Marion Murphy (UCC) spoke on “Supporting Work Practice – Supervision and Reflective Practice”

The Keynote speakers were facilitated by Maureen Ryan, Gerard Philips, Mary O’Sullivan and Derry O’Donovan.

The conference was commended highly on both work and social aspects by those who attended. The Welcoming Reception and Conference dinner at the hotel were thoroughly enjoyed. The Closing Forum was optimistic and promises to add to the growth and development of Local Authority Social Work in future years.

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