A few weeks ago, EASPD held its international Conference Leading change in Disability Services. Bringing together 300 participants, the conference focused on how disability services can drive organisational change and overcome barriers in HR and management, aiming to both uphold the quality of support for people with disabilities and the job quality of their professionals.

At the heart of these discussions was the necessity of gender equality in the workplace, exemplified by the EQUAL-CARE project.

During the Conference, a dedicated space of EASPD’s project corner showcased EQUAL-CARE with key materials, including a printed version of the Insight report on gender stereotypes in care, a leaflet presenting the project and the programme of the third webinar that will take place on 11 June.

Furthermore, EQUAL-CARE was at the centre of the discussions within the first panel of the conference, and through a dedicated workshop. 

The first panel explored how leaders can translate the sector’s core values into everyday practice to deliver person‑centred services. Speakers focused on the skills and mindsets required to build resilient, future‑ready organisations, highlighting how values‑driven leadership shapes culture, strengthens teams, and supports high‑quality, rights‑based support in times of change. 

Sylvain Renouvel, EASPD Board Member, represented the Equal Care consortium in this panel. He talked about the project to showcase an initiative advancing equality in the workplace through the development of professional training and awareness-raising actions. He highlighted how this helps to both foster recruitment and retention in social services, key challenges of the sector.

The same day, a dedicated workshop also took place. It was co-organised by EASPD and MARGARITA, the Greek partner and pilot. There, participants explored how gender inequality appears in care organisations and what realistic steps employers, HR staff, and managers can take in response. Through real-life scenarios, they explored actions to foster both a mindset, culture and concrete organisational policy of equality, such as developing and implementing gender equality plans, implementing tracking tools, and creating safe workspaces.

Together, the panel and the workshop served as a concrete contribution to the theme of the EASPD conference, exploring how leadership, management practices, and organisational culture can promote gender equality, work-life balance, and more inclusive workplaces in the disability care sector.