Professional Associations

Association for Real Change
Support for those who provide services for people with a learning disability, to help them promote change and good practice.
Website: www.arcuk.org.uk/

Association of Directors of Social Services
Represents all 179 directors of social services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The association initiates and contributes to all areas of social care policy, and is regularly consulted by government ministers, civil servants, voluntary organisations, media and other opinion-formers in the field.
Website: www.adss.org.uk/

British Association of Social Workers (BASW)
Information and advice on professional social work practice.
Website: www.basw.co.uk/

Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI)
Regional umbrella organisation for the children's voluntary sector in Northern Ireland. 
Website: www.ci-ni.org.uk/

Independent Health and Care Providers (IHCP)
Information for private, voluntary, charitable and church-affiliated providers of health and social care. Members include nursing and residential homes, domiciliary care providers and housing with care schemes.
Website: www.ihcp.co.uk/

National Union of Students-Union of Students in Ireland (NUS-USI)
Education, welfare, finance, legal issues and many other issues affecting students.
Website: www.nistudents.com/

Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
Information and advice for community and voluntary organisations on training, information management and policy development.
Website: www.nicva.org/

Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA)
Trade union protection and representation at work for civil service, public service and voluntary sector workers in NI.
Website: www.nipsa.org.uk/

Social Care Association (SCA)
Leading voice for all staff groups in social care services.
Website: www.socialcareassoc.com/

UNISON
Trade union protection and representation at work for public service workers in health; social services; education; local government; private companies providing public services; and the community and voluntary sector.
Website: www.unison.org.uk/ 

United Kingdom Home Care Association (UKHCA)
Information for independent sector providers of domiciliary care.
Website: www.ukhca.co.uk/