As part of the Social Work Strategy, the Department of Health (DoH) published the Social Work Leadership Framework in April 2022. Later that year, the DoH asked the Social Care Council to support its implementation.
The Leadership Framework is designed to reflect not only the delivery and outcomes of social work, but also the experience and impact of the profession. Grounded in the core pillars of professional identity, values, evidence, and social science, it encourages social workers to reflect on their practice through four key domains:
• Leading Self.
• Leading with Others.
• Leading Practice.
• Leading the Profession.
At the 2024 Professional in Practice Awards, we were delighted to be joined by artist Beth McComish from Arts Care, who led a creative workshop exploring leadership through art. Participants were invited to create miniature watercolours that reflected their personal leadership journeys. Beth then thoughtfully curated these individual pieces into a collective collage, symbolising the shared and diverse experiences of leadership in social work. The final composition was shaped by recurring themes found across many of the artworks, including pathways, supporting hands, sunlight, and elements of nature-each representing growth, guidance, and resilience.
Beth further refined the collective artwork to create a bespoke icon representing leadership in social work. This visual symbol will be used in future publications and communications to reflect the values, identity, and impact of leadership within the profession.
