Private Care Sector Workforce Initiative
The future of leadership in Scotland’s social services
Developing leadership at all levels in the sector is vital if we are to find solutions to some of the problems we encounter.
We all know that there are challenging times ahead and that we will need to be innovative to rise to these challenges. We also know that effective leadership results in the best delivery and performance for people who use services, their carers and all of us working in the social services sector. Developing leadership at all levels in the sector is vital if we are to find solutions to some of the problems we encounter - it can't be seen as something additional that we would like to do.
The SSSC and Scottish Social Services Learning Networks are taking forward the strategic direction for leadership in the sector. Events were held in November 2010 for the sector to hear:
• the vision and priorities for leadership and discuss how you can take them forward
• from practitioners about what leadership means to them and how their leadership skills have developed
• what this might mean for you and your service.
These events contributed to finalising the leadership action plan for social services in Scotland.
The Key Objectives for 2010-11 were outlined as follows.
The SSSLNs and the SSSC aim to build on the achievements of leadership activity, in the sector to date, through the Changing Lives Leadership and Management Group and its partner organisations. Some of the activity to be built on includes ‘Leading to Deliver’ leadership development programme, leadership communities, the leadership framework for social services, the Standard for Childhood Practice and the Chief Social Work Officer guidance.
With financial support from Scottish Government, the emphasis for the coming year is on consolidating these achievements and engaging with the sector to set out the vision for leadership in social services. Key objectives for the Partnership include:
• Engaging with social service workers, employers and people who use services to identify development needs in relation to leadership
• Mapping existing leadership activity and promoting awareness of existing resources
• Further developing leadership communities
• Developing senior leadership capacity within social work services and collaboratively across sector boundaries
• Building on strategic links between leadership activity in social services, health and education.
Watch the SSSC website for more information click here
As indicated above the Learning Networks will continue to support the on going leadership initiatives and integrate the new strategic direction and initiatives into their ongoing work.
Click here for information on a series of events being run in the Learning Network North's area.
