Introduction: leadership in social work and social care

Social work and social care is a diverse sector, including the profession of social work and a range of services and supports that seek to protect human rights, facilitate participation, and promote wellbeing of individuals, families and communities facing disadvantage, discrimination, and exclusion in society. Leadership is recognised as making an important contribution to ensuring quality of practice and improving outcomes for people and communities. However, there is, to date, limited research and theory that focusses on the context, challenges, and strengths of leadership in this sector. Traditional leadership models are not always fit for the current realities and underpinning principles of social work and social care, and more contemporary approaches focussing on the dynamics and values of leadership may be more relevant. The importance of lived experience leadership is also being recognised as important despite many barriers to co-production with professionals and organisations. This chapter provides a background to the Handbook, setting out definitions of social work and social care, an overview of the leadership literature, the process of developing the Handbook, and the questions we seek to address.