Level 5 Leadership and Management Certificate - Working with Children, Individuals and Families

This OFQUAL-regulated Level 5 leadership qualification has been designed specifically for professionals who lead and manage services supporting children, individuals and families.

The programme equips leaders with the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to lead teams working with complex needs, drive service improvement and strengthen outcomes for children and families.

Unlike generic leadership courses, this programme focuses directly on the real challenges faced in children and family services, including multi-agency working, supervision of complex casework, workforce resilience and outcome-focused practice.

About the Qualification

This is an OFQUAL approved Level 5 certificate worth 22 credits, delivered through three core units.

The programme combines interactive training with a structured assessment process that supports learners to apply their learning directly to their professional role.

The course can be delivered in two formats:

Virtual programme

• 10 facilitated online training sessions (half day)
• Highly interactive sessions with learners from across the country
• Comprehensive assessment process over approximately 11 months

Face-to-face programme

• 6 in-person training days
• Delivered in-house for organisations
• Comprehensive assessment process over approximately 11 months

Both options include tutor support, guided assessment and practical workplace application.

Who the Programme is For

This course is designed for professionals working in services supporting children, individuals and families, including:

• managers and team leaders responsible for staff working with families
• senior practitioners preparing to move into leadership roles
• experienced senior practitioners seeking a recognised Level 5 qualification
• managers working within Early Help, Family Hubs, social care, youth services or voluntary sector provision

Units 

Leadership, Management & Supervision when working with Children, Individuals and Families

This unit explores the key principles of effective leadership and management in services supporting vulnerable children and families.

Learners will examine:

• the differences between leadership and management
• leadership styles and personal leadership values
• change management
• supervision and case management
• performance management
• building resilient teams
• effective interpersonal communication

Participants will reflect on their own leadership approach and develop the skills required to support staff, manage complexity and drive improvement.

Building effective relationships when working with Children, Individuals and Families

Strong relationships are essential for effective multi-agency work.

This unit focuses on developing the skills required to build and sustain effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, both internal and external.

Learners will explore:

• barriers and enablers to effective partnership working
• influencing, negotiation and collaboration
• interpersonal communication skills
• gathering and analysing feedback from colleagues and partners
• evaluating the effectiveness of stakeholder relationships

Participants will develop strategies to strengthen collaboration and achieve better outcomes for children and families.

Evidencing outcomes and embedding improvements when working with Children, Individuals and Families

This unit focuses on understanding how leaders demonstrate impact and drive continuous improvement within services.

Learners will explore:

• using data and quality measures to evidence outcomes
• identifying and managing risk
• benchmarking performance
• responding to national and local policy drivers
• quality assurance and service improvement

Participants will complete a real-world work-based project and develop a personal action plan to improve performance and quality within their own service.

Learning Approach

The programme combines:

• interactive training sessions
• a comprehensive workbook and learning resources
• workplace-based learning
• a bespoke real-time work project linked to the learner’s own service or organisational priorities
• reflective practice to embed learning

Learners apply their learning directly within their organisation, ensuring that the programme strengthens both individual leadership capability and service delivery.

Find Out More

For further information about the programme, delivery options or upcoming cohorts, please get in touch.