Step into Leadership

About Step Into Leadership

Who we are

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) is the regulator for the social service workforce in Scotland. Our work means the people of Scotland can count on social services being provided by a trusted, skilled and confident workforce.

We protect the public by registering social service workers, setting standards for their practice, conduct, training and education and by supporting their professional development.

Vision for leadership in Scotland's social services

Scotland's social services need effective leadership at all levels within the workforce, as well as strong citizen leadership from people who use services and their carers.

Both individuals and employers have a role to play in making this happen. Individuals must commit to continuously develop their own leadership skills and capability, while employers must ensure their organisations develop a supportive organisational culture where individuals can use and enhance their leadership skills. This includes empowering people working in and using social services, and encouraging professional autonomy, creativity, measured risk-taking and initiative.

Why Step into Leadership?

People who work in and use social services told us through our Leading Together Research that:

• there are lots of leadership tools and resources available
• it can be difficult to navigate through them and find what’s most relevant.

Step into Leadership aims to help you find the leadership information and resources relevant to your role in social services.  Resources have been sourced from existing websites including Social Services Knowledge Scotland (SSKS), the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services, and the Social Care Institute for Excellence. You may also be interested in visiting the Improvement Service’s website which holds many learning resources. You have to apply for a login to this site and for some of the resources on the SSKS site.

What’s included?

The website is split into three leadership pathways. 'Pathway' describes the route by which an individual chooses to navigate the leadership development resources. Each person's pathway will be unique, as they develop leadership knowledge, skills and capability appropriate to their role, level of responsibility, leadership aspirations and learning needs:

• frontline workers
• people using services
• managers

Each pathway includes:

• A plan your pathway section to help you think about the leadership skills you already have and the areas you would like to develop
• A learning log for recording your learning that makes links to other learning you may be undertaking now or in the future
• Leadership capabilities outlining the essential components for leadership and how these link to the Continuous Learning Framework
• Organisational capabilities supporting the creation of a culture where leadership at all levels is encouraged and developed
• Links to National Occupational Standards – particularly useful if you are working towards a qualification or award
• Leadership materials and resources – including video clips, e-learning modules and journal articles, updated regularly
• Examples from Practice illustrating how others are using their leadership skills
• Information on leadership and management qualifications relevant for registration with the SSSC and your professional development
• Information on supervision,coaching,mentoring and action learning

Get involved

Step into Leadership is regularly updated with new resources and information. If you have any feedback on the site, or would like to recommend a resource that you think others would find useful, please contact us. 

There are several ways that you can engage with people across the sector about leadership development for example, our leadership reference group or by following our Twitter feed. For further details of these, please contact us.

More help

If you need help with anything not listed here please contact us.

Website Disclaimer

The SSSC makes every effort to ensure that the information published on its website is accurate and up-to-date. The information contained on the website does not constitute legal or professional advice and should not be treated as a substitute for such advice.

The website contains links which are not under the control of and are not maintained by the SSSC. The SSSC gives no warranty or representation as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for the purpose of the websites referenced by external link.

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