Social care, adults and communities: learning from Japan

Whilst very different culturally, Japan and the United Kingdom share similar challenges in relation to how best to respond to increasing pressures on adult social care services. These are in part due to ageing demography, but relate to changes in society that have led to older people and / or those with a disability becoming isolated and lonely. Recruiting and retaining a skilled and committed social care workforce has also proved difficult with connected concerns in quality and sustainability. To address these challenges, Japan has introduced a new funding model for social care and invested in the development of better networks within communities through voluntary organisations and informal networks of neighbours. Professor Dan Kayama from the Department of Social Welfare at Toyo University is an expert in community welfare for excluded populations. He will share the experience of Japan in moving to such a model of support and the potential learning for the UK with opportunities for questions and discussion.

For more details contact Robin Miller r.s.miller@bham.ac.uk or Patrick Hall p.j.hall@bham.ac.uk

The event is open to all and free to attend but please register your place here