Representatives of more than 80 organisations involved in health and social care joined Jewish Care’s World Social Work Day webinar on the theme of Recovery, Reform and Reflection.

And there was praise for the host from keynote speaker Professor Martin Green, CEO of Care England, the largest representative body for independent social care services in the UK.

“Every time I come to a Jewish Care service, I see the quality of the care ­— but also the quality of the built-in environment and the way in which you constantly strive to be absolutely at the cutting edge.

"I know you will never let your commitment to quality and to delivering life-changing services slip. That’s why you are so respected and so well regarded in the social care sector.”

Discussing the difficulties facing the sector, not least the ever increasing gap between statutory funding and the true cost, he noted that “social care has an enormous history of achievement and delivery.

"We must never let the current situation, which is challenging and difficult, be a barrier to continuing to deliver that wonderful and vital support to our communities.”

Dr Paul Dugmore, director of education (learning and teaching) at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, was also among the speakers, as were people who Jewish Care have supported.

One recalled that when his wife “was operated on for a terminal brain tumour, I didn’t have anyone to communicate and co-ordinate with until I met a member of the social work team at Jewish Care, who became my go-to person along the journey. Once I had that person, it was marvellous to know there was support.”