leadership

Leading change in supervison: messages from practice

This report describes the rationale, process and learning from a project led by IRISS which explored the topic of supervision with a group of six partners from across the social services sector. The purpose of this report is to share the learning gathered through the project to provide some evidence, inspiration, and pointers for those interested in improving supervision. Key points from the report can be used to prompt reflection and discussion with teams, to review current supervision practice and to help plan improvements.

Contemporary issues in the public management of social services in Europe

Paper that aims to look at the potential of research methodologies to test a social policy intervention or social service models. It takes a particular interest in the evaluation of cost- effectiveness, impact and transferability. Research evidence is absolutely vital for social work, yet there are barriers at the interface between research and practice:

Disabled youth create their own work opportunities through micro-entrepreneurship

Disabled micro-entrepreneurs are no longer waiting for job opportunities that don't materialise. This New Zealand based pilot project was carried out as a proof of concept that such learning materials can inspire disabled youth to take charge of their career development. This idea is still at the experimental level. The project will develop these interviews into a core online curriculum for disabled youth to get inspiration from stories of unusual successes.

Delivering integrated care and support (IRISS Insights, No 24)

Document that is based on a report prepared for ADSW at the time of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Bill (Petch, 2013) and seeks to distill key evidence to assist health and social care partnerships in Scotland in their delivery of integrated care and support. It works from the premise that structural change by itself does not deliver the improved outcomes sought for service users and communities, unless equal or greater attention is paid to a range of other key factors.

Key points are as follows:

Sustainable health and social care: a briefing for commissioners and health and wellbeing boards (Adults' Services SCIE Report 59)

Briefing that examines issues such as the role of health and wellbeing boards and commissioners; the impact of climate change; integration; community and personalisation; leadership and reputation; and risk management and business continuity.

Safeguarding: council developments

Report that provides details of how safeguarding practices have been improved in the areas of leadership and management; recruiting, maintaining and retaining a highly competent workforce; quality assurance and performance management; referral and assessment processes and procedures; and partnership working.

It gives localised accounts of practice implementation and, where possible, evidence of outcomes.

Social action for health and well-being: building co-operative communities

Document that covers four strategic themes that fundamentally shape the environment in which volunteering takes place and the willingness and ability of people to contribute.

The themes include:

• Leadership – building activity and service provision around people’s strengths
• Partnership – working together to build community capacity
• Commissioning – for better outcomes and increased social value
• Volunteer support – creating good volunteering experiences that are open to all.

Resourceful leadership : leading for outcomes in a time of shock

A study based on research commissioned by the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services in partnership with Centre for Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services C4EO. The research took place during 2010 and early 2011. The research period therefore spanned cuts introduced by the Coalition Government immediately after the 2010 Generation Election, a broader programme of cost reduction initiated by the 2010 spedngin Review, as well as specific policy reforms that have begun across a number of public services.