Scottish Social Services Council and Scottish Care Leadership Joint
Working Group Meeting Minutes
Monday 29 July 2013
Present:
Donna Macleod, Viewpoint
Jennifer Young, Four Seasons Healthcare
Tracy Viljoen, Bluebird Care
Maureen Allan, Allan-Ross
Mary Robson, Allan-Ross
David Rennie, Scottish Care
Julie Thomson, Scottish Care
Sandra Ferguson, Scottish Care
Fiona Clark, Scottish Social Services Council
Jess Alexander, Scottish Social Services Council
1.0
Welcome, introductions and purpose of meeting
1.1
David welcomed everyone and asked each person to introduce
themselves.
1.2
David explained that a Workforce Development Reference Group, which
has a membership of approximately 25 employers, has been set up to
take forward the workforce development work funded by the Scottish
Government grant awarded to Scottish Care in 2013/14. This group
discusses all workforce development areas including dementia, knowledge
into practice and leadership. David explained that smaller working groups
are being set up to focus on specific work areas and today’s meeting is
one of the groups identified to take forward the work on leadership; a first
meeting about leadership took place in June with another group of
providers. The SSSC is involved as it has lead responsibility for
developing and implementing the leadership strategy for Scotland’s social
services.
1.3
David made reference to the role and remit paper and asked everyone to
confirm if they were signed up to this. All present agreed.
1.4
Jennifer stated that the role of nurses as shift supervisors is a key issue; it
is vital that they have strong leadership skills and take ownership and
responsibility in their role. She mentioned that Four Seasons have started
a management development programme for home managers and deputies
and that this was needed to attract and develop talent.
1.5
Donna stated that Viewpoint have developed a leadership competency
framework, using other competence frameworks for reference. Their
leadership programme has been delivered four times over the past year.
1.6
Maureen stated that Allan Ross Home Care’s leadership development was
at an early stage that this was something they were working on with Mary
as part of their Change Fund project.
2.0
Scottish Social Services Leadership Strategy
2.1
Fiona provided an overview of the context within which the leadership
strategy has been developed, and the connections to policy drivers such
as integration and Self-Directed Support. Fiona stressed the key role that
frontline workers play in delivering in these policy areas and therefore the
importance of supporting them to develop leadership capability.
2.2
Fiona explained that the term ‘public services’ is being used in the
strategy as an inclusive term and includes all services which deliver
services to the public. Therefore in the context of this group, it includes
providers in the independent sector.
2.3
Fiona described the main leadership projects being worked on in 2013/14,
using the diagram provided. In particular she mentioned the Chief Social
Work Officer accredited learning pathway and the development work
which is currently being procured, the middle managers learning pathway
which has been highlighted as a need by the Association of Directors of
Social Work, and the collaborative leadership projects being undertaken
with colleagues in other public services. The middle manager learning
pathway will include a leadership development programme consisting of
on-line learning modules and an element of face-to-face action learning.
An outline of the programme is being finalised and it is planned that a
reference pool be set up to contribute to the development of its different
elements. Fiona stated that it would be useful to have some
representation from the independent sector on this group. The group
discussed who middle managers in the independent sector would be.
Action:
2.4
If anyone is interested, or knows of someone else who
would be interested, in joining the reference pool, they
should contact Fiona as soon as possible.
Jess talked about the development of the Step into Leadership website,
what has been done to raise awareness to date, and the potential for
further development (later provided a demonstration). Jess also
mentioned the successful themed leadership events which were held in
March 2013 and had a good representation from the independent sector.
Tracy described how she has incorporated the information from the
events, and Step into Leadership, into Bluebird Care’s learning
programme, and how staff have embraced this. More events are planned
later on in the year, the first of which will focus on the role of supervision
in social services.
2.5
Jess explained that one of the first projects that the group could become
involved in is the Leadership Exchange Programme. This is a programme
initially set up in 2012 to facilitate short-term secondments between
senior public service leaders in the third sector and Scottish Government.
It is now being rolled out more widely across all public services and one or
two participants from the social services independent sector were invited
to note interest for the first round of the programme; two people who
attended the leadership meeting in June have put their names forward for
this. They will attend an awareness session on 11 September 2013, the
details of which are in a flier that was sent to public services In July 2013.
Further access to the programme will be publicised once this first group of
participants has started. The role of sector co-ordinator, who will be the
person responsible for matching the two exchange partners, will be crucial
to the success of the programme. A sector co-ordinator for the
independent sector will be sought.
Action:
Jess to circulate the Leadership Exchange flier to group
members for information
2.6
David mentioned an integration workforce development event he is taking
part in in August 2013. He will be presenting a session with David
Strathearn from CCPS. There followed a general discussion about
integration and the culture change required.
3.0
Leadership issues and priorities for services providers in the
independent sector including action planning
3.1
David suggested that each group member considers what has been
discussed and after discussion with their organisations drafts a plan or
paragraph explaining how they are going to engage with the leadership
development activity. This would provide a starting point for a group
plan. The participants from the June meeting have already done this.
Action:
3.2
Group members to send their plan to David by the end
of August 2013
David reiterated the need to engage with frontline workers more and
asked the group to consider how to do this. Jess asked the group to
mention the supervision events to all levels of staff and encourage
involvement.
3.3
David mentioned that he is not able to attend the Scottish Social Services
Leadership Strategy Group meeting in September and suggested that
Tracy attend in his place. He will contact her with details and to confirm if
this is possible.
Action:
David to discuss further with Tracy and confirm
attendance with the SSSC
4.0
AOCB
4.1
David mentioned that he is hoping that Scottish Care will hold a workforce
event alongside the Social Work Expo event in March 2014. Further
details to follow.
4.2
Jess mentioned that if anyone wants Step into Leadership promotional
materials for staff (cards, pens, etc), they should contact her. Maureen
asked that some be sent to her.
Action:
5.0
Jess to arrange to have 200 sent to Maureen. Others
can request of Jess
Date of next meeting
Tuesday 24 September 2014, 10.30am to 1pm, at the SSSC, Compass House,
11 Riverside Drive, Dundee DD1 4NY. A sandwich lunch will be provided.