Leadership training programme launched for PSWs, AMHP leads

A government-backed leadership training scheme has been launched for principal social workers (PSW), approved mental health professional (AMHP) leads and principal occupational therapists (POT) in adults' services in English councils.

The adult social care leadership programme, which will mostly be delivered online, will also offer places to senior practitioners from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds who are aspiring towards PSW, AMHP lead or POT roles.

Funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the programme is designed to enable leaders to promote high-quality and reflective supervision, learning and continuing professional development within their organisations.

Online-focused leadership programme

Research in Practice, which is delivering the programme on behalf of the DHSC, said it would consist of:

Five day-long online learning sessions delivered over three months, with some 'homework' between each.
Two online mentoring sessions, at the beginning and end of the programme, respectively.
Three online group-based learning sessions exploring race, disparity and allyship.
Two online small-group sessions to enable participants to put their learning into practice.
An in-person conference at the end of the programme.

Participation is through nomination by directors of adult social services or other senior leaders, who can select up to four nominees, two PSWs, AMHPs or POTs and two aspiring leaders from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds (known as global majority aspirant leaders). Nominations should be made using this form, by 14 April 2024.

Research in Practice will deliver the scheme to three cohorts of 20 leaders between June and December 2024, and the DHSC has held open the possibility of the programme being extended for a further two years.

Disparity between children's and adults' services

The DHSC has allocated an estimated £100,000 to the programme, a sum which highlights the disparity in government-funded leadership development for staff between staff in adults' services and those in children's services.

In 2022, the Department for Education awarded Frontline £7m over two years to deliver leadership training and development to children's services staff at four levels: practice supervisor, middle manager, heads of service and practice leaders (equivalent to assistant directors).

The DfE has also recently agreed a new contract with the Staff College, worth £2.15m over the next two years, to continue delivering Upon, its programme to develop aspiring directors of children's services.