Post Munro: The Shape of Things to Come 19 th September 2011

The way we think about families: - A debate still to be had - a postcode lottery - For better or for worse - Minimal state intervention - Families can change - And skilled, evidence based social work intervention can help facilitate that - Moving away from problems to solutions, from punishment to support - Acting early and acting fast

The way we think about leadership and organisational functioning: - Paralysis and inertia - Too much focus on the machinery around practice - Culture eats strategy for breakfast (Allen, 2011) - Good ideas with brilliant application - The need for military precision - The power of junior bureaucrats - Doing deals v the dangers of compromise - The disgrace of inefficiency

Doing things differently & effectively Small is beautiful A simple system for a complex task Role generosity Effort Realistic optimism A risk sensible system The productivity of responsibility Independence can generate an empty mind (Munro, 2011)

Coming Back Down to Earth………. Reclaiming Social Work – logical to its core A whole system change The dispensation authorities - no quick fix - devolved decision making (avoiding the bottle neck) - demise of consistency - the threshold for intervention and continuation (the timescales won’t do it for you) - skilled and confident social workers - case consultation - capacity to undertake direct work (re-organisation of roles & expectations) - reflective time - managers who are capable and enabled to supervise The anxiety generated and the role of leadership Values, trust and professional ethics