The Pathways programme was a leadership development programme that empowered over 2,000 social work managers and supervisors to cultivate excellent social work practice and leadership skills. Although the programme concluded in summer 2024, Frontline recognises the ongoing need for exceptional leadership in the sector. Therefore, we have created Progress Social Work – Frontline’s new leadership development programme for team managers and aspiring team managers, designed by the team who created the Pathways programme.
Pathways programme
Keep informed about Frontline’s new leadership programme
What impact did the Pathways programme have?
98%
of leaders were satisfied or very satisfied with the programme
93%
of leaders felt the programme had improved their ability to lead change and their ability to deliver improvements
71%
of leaders were able to use their new skills to improve wellbeing for themselves or their teams
12 months after qualifying…
98%
of leaders surveyed have applied the learnings they used on the programme in their role
98%
of leaders surveyed felt the programme had helped them plan their career development
44%
of leaders surveyed had been promoted since finishing Pathways
Who was Pathways for?
The Pathways programme was aimed at leaders working in children’s social care and was split into four distinct programmes for different levels of leadership.
Pathway 1
Practice supervisors or equivalent roles.
Pathway 2
Team managers or equivalent and aspirant team managers (experienced practice supervisors who want to develop into team managers).
Pathway 3
Heads of service or equivalent and aspirant heads of service (experienced middle managers who want to develop into service managers or heads of service).
Pathway 4
Practice leaders, such as assistant directors and aspirant practice leaders (experienced heads of service who want to develop into practice leader roles).
What leadership skills did Pathways enhance?
- Leading effective supervision sessions and supporting team mental health and wellbeing.
- Creating a safe, inclusive team culture and implementing anti-racist, anti-oppressive practices.
- Reducing bureaucracy to maximise direct work with children and families.
- Setting and communicating an ambitious, inspiring vision and managing service-wide improvement.
- Navigating political and corporate systems, and leading change with multi-agency partners.
- Using data and research to improve practice, measure success and manage risk.
- Maintaining organisational morale and resilience, and preparing for Ofsted inspections.
4C leadership capability framework
The Pathways curriculum was grounded in Frontline’s 4C leadership capability framework. This framework outlines four key challenges faced by social work leaders, and the programme’s teaching was designed to support leaders in addressing these challenges and developing into excellent leaders.
Expanding capacity
Through learning and innovation, extend what can be achieved by influencing others: improve systems, maximise relationships and create greater capacity for change that impacts positively on the lives of children and families.
Maintaining curiosity
Maintain a curious approach to understanding yourself, others and the context in which you work in order to remain aligned to your values, build effective relationships and advocate for children and families’ best interests.
Providing clarity
Sustain an unwavering vision of what good outcomes look like for children and families; know what is needed to achieve this both within and beyond your service, providing clarity on the role you and others play in this.
Managing complexity
Critically engage with the systems you inhabit, applying creative, evidence-informed approaches and harnessing these to prioritise activities which are meaningful, proactive and centred around the needs of children and families.
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