Background

Leadership is recognised as making an important contribution towards the raising of the standard of social work in line with other professional disciplines. Numerous reviews of children and adult social services highlight that an absence of good leadership has been a factor in failing services which do not protect vulnerable children or adults. Whilst being encouraged by government policies and professional bodies, and included within professional capability frameworks, there remains a lack of clarity about what is distinct about leadership within a social work context and how it can be supported in practice.

This study will provide greater clarity of what good leadership looks like in social work and the realities of leading within this professional context.

Methods

The study will involve three work packages –

- An evidence review of leadership in social work

- A policy review of leadership in each of the home nations through documentary analysis and interviews with social work stakeholders from practice, policy and academia

- A national survey of principal social workers in England

Main results

Awaited.

Conclusions

Awaited.