Introduction

Leadership in social work practice has two components. First, it is deployed in direct work with individuals, families and carers, and second, in working alongside colleagues within the team or organisation where the service is provided, and with colleagues in other agencies and professions. In this chapter the starting point is leadership as ‘showing the way’, focusing on the values and approaches of distributive and citizen models of leadership that emphasise participation, engagement and inspiration. Within direct practice the development of insight and understanding is the critical first step in empowerment and working towards positive change.

The social worker, by openly developing and sharing insights on the personal, drawing on psychological and social perspectives and knowledge, and working with individuals and families, jointly identifies the best ways forward. Explaining these complex interactions to colleagues gives understanding of the problems and challenges faced by individuals and groups in distress or in need of direct help. It helps colleagues gain a broader and more comprehensive appreciation of the complexity of individual circumstances, and the potential causes or origins of the challenges they and those around them face. It can build empathy and understanding in colleagues who may be irritated, impatient or simply perplexed by seemingly intractable problems, and demonstrate how interventions need to focus across a range of issues. Equally, colleagues gain from the demonstration of effective social work interventions.

The application of the qualities and skills of participative leadership and self-leadership are central to the practice skills in direct work with people who use social work services and their carers. The values and approaches of participative, engaging and inspiring leadership schools of thought accord with the social work methods of empowerment, sharing authority and knowledge, person-centred counselling, building shared goals and developing insight. This use of leadership is part of the narrative within the enduring traditions and values of social work, listening, heeding, sharing power, modelling, coaching and being grounded in where the individual and their carers are, starting from their direct experiences and the solutions they identify.

Moving beyond insight and understanding requires knowledge of what is likely to make a difference for the future, what interventions or changes in personal circumstances will resolve current problems and prevent or reduce the likelihood of their recurrence.