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Section 5 of 6
Pathway 2: Expanding capacity

How middle managers can expand capacity in practice 

By now you will have a clearer sense of how you want to develop your ability to expand capacity. The next section sets out a range of practical strategies that will:  

  • strengthen team collaboration 
  • support staff well-being 
  • enhance decision-making 
  • improve outcomes for children and families in social care 

These are separated into suggestions that will benefit you, your team, and your work with wider stakeholders.  Which of the following activities do you think you, those you supervise, and service would most benefit from doing? Select one from each section that you would like to experiment with.  

Thinking about yourself 

Multi-disciplinary development opportunities 

Look for leadership development events that bring together professionals from different fields such as:  

  • social work 
  • psychology 
  • business

This will allow you to brainstorm and share insights on complex issues. 

Future focus sessions 

Create or participate in ’future focus sessions’ that focus on future trends and innovations in social care. Use these sessions to think ambitiously and plan for future changes in the field. This will inspire forward-thinking strategies, and prepare you for future challenges, increasing your capacity to lead and adapt in a rapidly evolving landscape. 

Thinking about your team 

Storytelling workshops 

Organise workshops that teach supervisees how to use storytelling for advocacy by creating compelling narratives that highlight the needs of children and families. Use case studies and interactive exercises to practice transforming real cases into impactful stories. By the end of the workshop, supervisees should feel confident in using storytelling to effectively advocate in professional settings, such as meetings or courtrooms. 

Skill-sharing sessions 

Set up skill-sharing sessions where team members can teach one another specific skills. This might include areas like time leadership, effective communication, or handling sensitive issues. These sessions will help your team learn from each other’s strengths and improve overall team effectiveness. 

Thinking about the wider system 

Create space for lived experience voices 

Involve supervisees in initiatives that amplify the voices of those with lived experience. For example, organise sessions where families or community members share their experiences with social services. This helps supervisees understand the real-world effect of their work. It also expands their capacity to work responsive to the needs of diverse communities. 

Encourage collaborative partnerships with diverse communities

Promote the development of partnerships with community organisations that serve diverse populations. Encourage those you supervise to engage with these organisations, participate in community events, and learn from community leaders. This expands their capacity to work effectively within different cultural contexts.    

Over to you

After you’ve reviewed these activities, choose one from each section that you’d like to experiment with. You can use the 4C leadership capability framework action plan to detail when and where you’ll try these out and consider their effect over time. 

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The resources have been developed by Frontline in collaboration with DfE.
Published: 30 January 2025
Last updated: 30 January 2025