Skills for Care have published a refreshed version of their Leadership Qualities Framework (LQF) to support great leadership in the adult social care sector.
The updated framework defines the behaviours, skills and mindsets that define great leadership in adult social care.
Importantly, it is aligned to the Care Workforce Pathway and so is designed to model effective leadership at every level within the adult social care sector – from frontline care roles to strategic management – with leadership “shaped by actions, not job titles,” and able to be embodied and demonstrated by any member of the care workforce.
Leadership Qualities Framework outlines ‘shared values’ for leaders in care
The LQF encompasses the new Management and Leadership Code for Health and Social Care, which has been co-developed by NHS England, Skills for Care and sector partners.
This new code has been developed to define shared values that guide leaders in care to create safe, supportive and ethical environments.
The updated Leadership Qualities Framework comes after the ‘Leadership for a collaborative and inclusive future’ review (known as the Messenger Review 2022), which examined the best ways to strengthen leadership and management in health and adult social care in England.
The five dimensions of leadership outlined in the Leadership Qualities Framework have been reviewed by industry partners and now have a strengthened focus on co-production, equality and increasing digital confidence in the sector.
Updated Leadership Qualities Framework designed for all levels of workforce
The framework is intended to be used by individuals working within the sector to assess their own leadership performance as well as he performance of their team and to assist organisations with staff recruitment, selection and development. It is accompanied by a self-assessment tool to help those in the sector to identify their strengths and areas of development and plan growth.
Skills for Care’s National Leadership and Management Lead, Jayne McCabe, said the latest update of the Leadership Qualities Framework was an “important refresher” and a “really positive step forward for leadership development in adult social care.”
She added:
“The Framework recognises the important role of leaders in social care and their impact on care quality. It provides a practical guide to the key qualities of effective leadership at all levels within the sector, aligned to the Care Workforce Pathway. It aims to help people see leadership as a characteristic that runs through the workforce, covering not just actions but behaviours. We’re excited to see how the framework and codes help to build understanding of the impact of great leadership across adult social care and what that looks like.”
Training and development for adult social care
First Response Training (FRT) is a leading, national training provider. They deliver over 7,000 courses each year in the fields of health and safety, first aid, fire safety, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care and more.
Their health and social care range includes Moving and Assisting, Person Centred Care, Duty of Care, Safeguarding Adults and many more.
A trainer from FRT says:
“Leaders and managers in care help to ensure the effectiveness of care services but to do this they need the right help, support and guidance.
“They also need staff with the right, values, attitudes and behaviours and many of these could also be everyday leadership qualities. Developing these qualities in staff will help improve workplace culture and lead to better outcomes for people drawing on care and support.
“It’s great that Skills for Care is taking this time to support managers, leaders and all care workers across the sector to help them identify good leadership.”
For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.