The legacy of Covid, the cost of living crisis and copious new policy are all shaping social work in 2022. In this episode, Essex County Council managers Michelle Hayden-Pepper (children's services) and Alison Ansell (adult social care) discuss how the authority is responding to the challenges, including by supporting social workers' wellbeing, investing in learning and development and championing practice quality and innovation. We also look ahead to the 25th anniversary of Community Care Live in October 2022.