Ategi and IMPACT: Driving Positive Change in Adult Social Care

At Ategi, we are proud to support the IMPACT project, Improving Adult Social Care Together, as a case study of good practice. This UK-wide initiative brings together five universities and numerous partners to explore how evidence-informed change can improve social care, focusing on the experiences of those who draw on care and support from, and work in, the sector. 

A Collaboration for Change 

Through this collaboration, Ategi is helping explore innovative ways to enhance staff well-being and retention, while improving outcomes for the people we support. Unlike traditional research, IMPACT builds understanding from the ground up, gathering insights directly from care users, frontline staff, and practitioners rather than imposing top-down solutions. 

"We chose to put Ategi forward for the IMPACT project because it aligns perfectly with our commitment to improving adult social care while supporting and retaining our staff. While Celia is not employed by Ategi and her role is entirely part of the IMPACT programme, we are proud to provide a setting where her work can take place. The project aims to focus on staff retention, exploring what helps people stay in their roles and creating positive change for both our teams and the wider social care sector.” 

Lynn Longland, Head of HR at Ategi.  

Celia Netana, Ategi’s IMPACT Facilitator in Wales, brings a wealth of experience in social research, community organising, and a recently completed PhD. In her words, her role is to “capture ideas and experiences from the people on the ground and turn them into actionable insights.” She emphasises that the project is about amplifying voices, not prescribing solutions. 

Focus on Staff Retention and Well-Being 

One of the project’s key priorities from the IMPACT Facilitator project is understanding what makes staff stay in social care roles. High vacancy and turnover rates remain a challenge across the sector, affecting both staff and the people they care for. By engaging with staff, managers, service users, and even those who have left the sector, Ategi and IMPACT aim to identify practices that create a supportive and sustainable work environment. 

Celia highlights the broader impact of this work: 

“Social care workers are highly skilled and essential. By focusing on well-being and retention, we’re not only improving staff experiences but also the continuity and quality of care for those who draw on the service.” 

Gathering Insights Across Wales and the UK 

Celia facilitates events, focus groups, and conversations to uncover insights that can inform better practice locally and nationally. The perspectives gathered in Wales feed into the UK-wide IMPACT programme, enabling lessons learned at Ategi to contribute to national improvements. 

“IMPACT is about amplifying voices and creating positive change together,” Celia says. 

Why This Work Matters 

Social care often goes unseen, yet it is vital to the lives of thousands of vulnerable people. For Celia, her personal experience with family members who received social care underscores the importance of this work: 

“Seeing how vital this support is, and how much it relies on skilled, dedicated staff, really inspires me to help improve the system for everyone.” 

Improving staff retention and well-being isn’t just beneficial for employees—it ensures continuity and quality of care for service users and their families. 

A Case Study in Good Practice 

Ategi’s collaboration with this IMPACT Facilitator project demonstrates how organisations can actively contribute to sector-wide learning and improvement. By combining research, practical experience, and staff and service user voices, Ategi is helping to foster positive change in adult social care, both locally and nationally. 

About Ategi 

Ategi supports adult social care through innovative practice, collaborative projects, and a focus on staff well-being and service user outcomes. Our partnership with IMPACT exemplifies our commitment to driving meaningful, evidence-informed change across the sector. 

Celia Netana 

Celia's background is in adult teaching, social research and Community Organising. She is interested in understanding more about how members of the community go about making positive change, particularly in work-related issues. 

Celia is an IMPACT Facilitator based at Ategi, near Pontypridd in South Wales. The project focuses on staff retention in adult social care.