Investing in line managers

Scenario

A council's human resources department has raised a number of concerns about the way that absence and performance issues are being managed within social work teams. Completion of practice supervisor self-assessments by team managers has highlighted inconsistencies in the training and support they have received.

Action

On behalf of the director, the principal social worker works with human resources and the workforce lead to benchmark existing line manager induction training against NICE guidance on workplace health: management practices. The training is updated to include additional content to empower line managers to offer proactive support and manage sensitive situations with greater confidence.

Further guidance

The guidance includes advice on positive senior leadership behaviours and a list of skills and knowledge that line managers should receive training in.

Relevant resources

Guidelines

• Mental wellbeing at work guideline

• Workplace health: management practices guideline

• Workplace health: long-term sickness absence and capability to work guideline

Quality standards

• Healthy workplaces: improving employee mental and physical health and wellbeing quality standard