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Leadership in Social Work

Practice experience and national reviews have identified that good leadership makes a vital contribution to people, families and communities experiencing positive and enabling support that improves their life opportunities and wellbeing.

Whilst leadership is well understood in other fields and disciplines, there is though relatively little formal evidence as such regarding what ‘good look likes in’ in relation to leadership in social work and social care and how this differs from leadership in other professional groups and organisational settings. There is a similar lack of research regarding leadership development in social work and social care, and what are the most effective approaches to supporting leadership development throughout a social work and social care career.

This workstream seeks to:

  • advance knowledge and theory on the enactment of leadership in social work and social care services
  • facilitate debate over the core concepts, challenges, and opportunities to good leadership in this professional and organisational context
  • provide tailored development opportunities for practice and senior leaders in social work across the UK and internationally.

UK based external collaborators include the Social Care Institute for Excellence, British Association of Social Work, Research in Practice, Associations of Directors of Adult Social Services / Children's Services, Skills for Care, and Principal Social Worker and Lead Occupational Therapy Networks.

International collaborators include the University of Melbourne (Australia), McMaster University (Canada), New York University Silver School of Social Work (USA), and the European Social Network.

Current programme opportunities include:

Lead staff

  • Professor Anne-Marie Glover

    Professor of Social Work

    Professor Anne-Marie Glover is a qualified and HCPC registered Social Worker, and has worked in a range of statutory Children & Families settings.

  • Professor Robin Miller

    Professor of Collaborative Learning in Health & Social Care

    Professor Miller has an international reputation in relation to integration, leadership, strengths-based practice, and strategic change in health and social care.

  • Dr Jason Schaub

    Associate Professor in Social Work

    Dr Jason Schaub is an Associate Professor in Social Work in the Department of Social Work and Social Care, School of Social Policy and Society at the University of Birmingham

  • Kelly Tighe

    Lecturer

    Kelly Tighe is a Teaching Fellow and registered social worker in the University of Birmingham

  • Simon Haworth

    Lecturer

    Simon Haworth is a Lecturer within the Department of Social Work and Social Care at the University of Birmingham.