In-Tune Leadership- Creating professional Safety nets in Safeguarding Practice
Authors: Lenz, S.
Conference: SW Celebrating Research in Safeguarding
Dates: 9 February 2023
Abstract:Child Protection can be stressful and traumatic for practitioners and the support they get from managers and impact on performance. How safe do workers feel and is the manager a secure base? By applying the basic principles of Attachment Theory to this relationship, I explore how Social Workers display attachment behaviours in the workplace towards their managers. The interplay between proximity seeking actions and the manager’s response offers insights into the personal connection and attunement.
I am interested how relationship specific attachments to managers can create a professional safety net and a secure base where Social Workers can make sense of their experiences in practice. I hypothesise that this in turn will impact positively on safeguarding decision making for children, young people and their families.
I acknowledge that managers often come into their positions without specific leadership training and operate in neoliberal organisational structures, which do not necessarily align with Social Work values. This paradox and the need to provide measurable safeguarding outcomes at times of austerity adds considerable complexity to the interpersonal links.
Exploring what practitioners and managers bring to their alliance is focus of my research: How can trustful professional connections be created and what is needed to seek and receive feedback on safeguarding performance whilst creating safe and in-tune work relationships? Ultimately Social Workers know how powerful trauma and attachment informed practice is to facilitate positive outcomes for families - why would we not apply the same principles to our professional relationships?
Source: Manual