Dudley - First Line Management Development Programme for Children’s Services
Strengthening Management Practice Across Children’s Services
Dudley commissioned Interface to design and deliver a bespoke First Line Management Development Programme to support Team Managers and Practice Supervisors across children’s services during a period of ongoing service development linked to integrated Family Help and the Families First reforms.
Recognising the importance of confident, consistent and reflective management practice, the authority wanted to invest in a programme that would strengthen management capability, support workforce development and help embed a shared approach to supervision, quality assurance and team leadership across services.
Our Approach
We worked closely with senior leaders to understand local priorities, workforce development needs and service improvement objectives. Using this information, we designed a bespoke first line management programme tailored specifically to the needs of operational managers within children’s services.
The programme includes:
- Team leadership and supervision
- Managing team dynamics and accountability
- Reflective and strengths-based supervision
- Coaching conversations and staff development
- Quality assurance and decision-making
- Managing change and supporting staff wellbeing
- Using data and feedback
- Building confidence in integrated and multi-agency working
The programme is being delivered through interactive workshops, reflective discussion, practical exercises, scenario-based learning and peer learning activities grounded in the realities of operational management within children’s services.
Key Areas of Development
Across the programme, managers are exploring:
- The role and responsibilities of first line managers
- Delivering reflective and supportive supervision
- Strengthening team culture and communication
- Managing performance and accountability effectively
- Supporting staff through periods of change and development
- Leading confidently within integrated Family Help systems
- Using coaching approaches to build confidence and capability
- Strengthening quality assurance and oversight
- Building psychologically safe and high-performing teams
A strong focus of the programme is supporting managers to develop reflective, confident and relational management approaches that strengthen practice, workforce culture and integrated working across services.
Looking Ahead
As the programme progresses, managers will continue to develop practical tools, reflective approaches and leadership confidence to support their teams effectively within complex service environments. The programme also provides valuable opportunities for peer learning, shared reflection and strengthening consistency of management practice across children’s services.