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How directors of children's services improve outcomes in schools and early years

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 schools and early years theme, the study was able to identify the following resourceful behaviours:

• creating and sustaining commitment in the system by working closely with headteachers
• working collaboratively by drawing on partners, such as health and the police, to ensure that multifaceted problems get the right professional support and promote shared responsibility for children and young people in schools
• the ability to be open to possibilities and to focus on results by drawing on local and national research to ensure that problems are understood and appropriate actions taken, and by developing new models of delivery which are based around improving educational outcomes

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