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How directors of children's services improve outcomes for children experiencing child poverty

Author: National College and C4EO
Subject: Multi-agency working
Audience: Early years leaders
Date of publication: March 2011   |   File format and size: PDF, 357 Kb

Leaders in the public sector and children's services are facing a number of challenges, including a tough financial climate, high expectations of services at lower cost, shifts in demographics, complex and shared delivery and public sector reform. These challenges require leaders to demonstrate a high degree of resourcefulness.

The Leading for Outcomes research examines the nature of successful leadership as a director of children's services (DCS). Since April 2005, DCSs have provided leadership that has sought to transform every aspect of services for families, children and young people.

The research defines eight core behaviours of resourcefulness. For the child poverty theme, the study was able to identify the following resourceful behaviours:

  • the ability to collaborate within the local authority and with partners by embedding structures and practices to facilitate collaboration
  • focusing on results and outcomes by creating strategies to improve outcomes in the long term
  • the ability to be open to possibilities by proactively engaging in the task to find efficiencies

More information about resourceful leadership can be found on our website.