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How directors of children's services improve outcomes in safeguarding

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 safeguarding theme, the study was able to identify the following resourceful behaviours:

• the ability to collaborate, create and sustain commitment across the system
• focusing on results and outcomes in safeguarding and child protection
• the ability to be open to possibilities by proactively engaging in the task to find efficiencies
• openness to possibilities by proactively engaging with the policy reforms required by central government, and by thinking innovatively about alternative models of delivery such as outsourcing or greater use of commissioning

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