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Section 4 of 6
Pathway 2: Managing complexity

Managing complexity

The 4 capabilities shown as 4 sections in a circle. Capability 3 which is managing complexity, is highlighted.

Managing complexity is a crucial skill for middle managers in children’s social care. You are often required to balance work with families, diverse team needs, and organisational priorities while ensuring quality outcomes for children and families. 

Ways you can manage complexity  

Knowledge and skills 

Staying informed by seeking the latest research and best practices helps you lead your team effectively, ensuring decisions are based on evidence and current knowledge. Leading by example encourages ongoing learning within your team, as you model excellent practice and demonstrate expertise in children and family social work. 

Decision-making 

Managing risk by evaluating data and patterns allows you to make quick, informed decisions while supporting your team with critical thinking and child-centred decision-making. Identifying trends helps you guide your team in connecting information to understand a family’s needs and risks, promoting more informed and effective decision-making. 

Quality assurance 

Giving feedback through regular observations and visits ensures high-quality work while supporting your team's development and reinforcing constructive feedback. Monitoring performance helps you lead quality assurance, identifying strengths and areas for improvement to maintain a continuous focus on high standards of care. 

Reflective practice 

Promoting systemic thinking encourages your team to adopt a whole-family approach, addressing root causes and focusing on long-term solutions for the family’s wellbeing. Advocating for a family-centred approach ensures their perspective remains at the heart of practice, providing comprehensive, inclusive support that meets the diverse needs of each family.

Spend 5 minutes reflecting on one of the following: 

  • How do you ensure that your feedback and performance monitoring effectively support your team's development, reinforce high standards of care, and enable continuous improvement? 
  • How do you support your team in making informed, child-centred decisions when faced with complex or uncertain information? 

You can use the ‘managing complexity as a middle manager’ section in your 4C leadership capability framework action plan for this activity. 

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