How far can a short leadership and management programme address the challenges for first line social work managers? An evaluation of one of the skills for care leadership and management demonstration sites

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Ward, J. ORCID: 0000-0002-5531-7131 and Bailey, D. ORCID: 0000-0001-5823-7746, 2015. How far can a short leadership and management programme address the challenges for first line social work managers? An evaluation of one of the skills for care leadership and management demonstration sites. Practice: Social Work in Action. ISSN 0950-3153

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09503153.2015.1087492

Abstract

This article describes the evaluation of a leadership and management training programme for first line social work managers, focussing on safeguarding. The programme was developed alongside local authority partners and included both children’s and adult services managers. The evaluation, carried out with funding from Skills for Care, used a multi- level evaluation framework, adapted from Kirkpatrick by one of the authors previously. The evaluation demonstrated value to the candidates in terms of enhanced learning and changes in behaviour, in particular strengthening leadership and management skills, decision making and confidence in safeguarding. Candidates had an increased level of confidence in carrying out their managerial roles, and particularly appreciated the opportunity to reflect on practice and spend time exploring issues around safeguarding and risk. Feedback from candidates’ line managers, although limited, confirmed the benefits of the course to staff. Comparison is made with published evaluations of similar short leadership and management courses and the value of such courses recognised.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Practice: Social Work in Action

Creators:

Ward, J. and Bailey, D.

Publisher:

Routledge on behalf of the British Association of Social Workers

Date:

2015

ISSN:

0950-3153