Leadership and management

Learning outcomes

• Deliver effective, recorded reflective supervision
• Meet Ofsted and regulatory expectations for quality assurance
• Handle allegations against staff through the LADO process
• Build and sustain an open, learning culture

Module 1 of 3

Supervision and reflective practice

Formal supervision happens at least every four to six weeks, is recorded and signed by both parties, and covers casework, practice development, wellbeing and any concerns. It is not a performance meeting with a different name.

Reflective supervision asks what happened, how it felt, what it means and what changes next. Teams that can safely say I got that wrong are the teams where children are safest, because near misses surface early.

Module 2 of 3

Quality assurance and compliance

Regulation 44 visits, Regulation 45 six-monthly reviews, the Statement of Purpose and the children's guide are the backbone of external assurance. Internal audits of care plans, medication, restraint records, missing episodes and complaints run continuously alongside them.

Serious incidents are notified to Ofsted and the placing authority within required timescales. Trends matter more than single events: rising restraint or missing figures on one team is a leadership signal, not a staffing coincidence.

Module 3 of 3

Allegations and safer recruitment

Any allegation against a member of staff is referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer within one working day. Managers do not investigate first; the LADO decides on the strategy, and the member of staff is supported through a fair process.

Safer recruitment means full employment history, gaps explained, two references verified directly, an enhanced DBS with barred list check, identity and qualification checks, and value-based interviewing. Never let a shift shortage shortcut a check.