Practice supervisor KSS 1: promote and govern excellent practice

Last updated: 8 June 2023

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This page sets out the knowledge and skills listed under practice supervisor KSS 1 (promote and govern excellent practice) in the Department for Education’s post-qualifying standard: knowledge and skills statement for child and family practice supervisors (KSS). Against this, we have mapped Community Care Inform guides, research, learning tools and other resources to help supervisors meet and evidence this part of the statement for career and continuing professional development. The links to the resources are in blue; click to follow them to the page you’re interested in.

 What does the statement say?

 Resources to help you

The practice supervisor will be able to:

•      Establish and maintain a highly valued position of influence within the organisation, and be recognised for extensive knowledge and skill in the profession of child and family social work.

•      Help shape and influence an environment which enables excellent practice by setting high standards and motivating others to do the same.

•      Demonstrate optimistic behaviour, and build positive relationships with children and families and other professionals.

•      Lead by example, showing integrity, creativity, resilience and clarity of purpose.

•      Be visible and accessible to all staff, children and families.

•      Be accountable for ensuring the highest professional standards and professional conduct.

•      Design and implement measures to assure the quality of practice and the effective throughput of work.

•      Interrogate decisions, ensuring they are underpinned by theory and the best evidence and that they will contribute to the goals of the family and their social work plan, whilst ensuring that the safety of children remains the highest priority.

•      Closely monitor the wellbeing of children in public care, ensuring that they grow up in homes in which they are happy and thriving, holding high ambitions for their futures.

Leadership knowledge and practice hub
Includes guidance on how to develop and draw on your own leadership style and skills, plus case studies by social work managers of how they motivated others and promoted high quality practice.

Tips from the Firstline leadership programme cover areas including resilience, decision-making, impact and influence, and inspiring others.

Case study: from manager to leader
A manager shares what she learned from working with a demotivated team and turning it around: the journey to improve performance, creating an ‘atmosphere of growth’ and pride in excellent practice.

Developing emotional resilience
Explores how to develop resilience in both yourself and practitioners. This guide takes an approach of ‘realistic optimism’ and provides suggestions for building a personal emotional resilience toolkit.

Evidence-based practice
Considers how to use research to base decisions on current best evidence, with the child or family’s best interests in mind.

Analysis and decision-making
Suggests approaches to gathering and analysing evidence for decision-making.

The looked-after children knowledge and practice hub and fostering knowledge and practice hub support practitioners to work towards the best outcomes for children in care.

Links to resource maps for other parts of the KSS for practice supervisors:

You might be interested in…

Online resource map for all parts of the KSS for practice supervisors
PDF version of the resource map for all parts of the practice supervisor KSS
Quick guide to the knowledge and skills statements and their role in the ASYE, and ongoing professional development
Map of resources for the child and family practitioner KSS