Knowledge and understanding of: 

• Current research and development in the health and social care sector
• Theories underpinning the learning, development and motivation of individuals and teams
• The role of the team and the internal and external environment in which it operates
• Values and ethics and the principles and practices of diversity, equality, rights and inclusion
• Approaches to dignity and respect
• The principles and practice of supervision with their staff
• The theories and up-to-date research and best practice that underpin practice decision making
• The working practices surrounding legislation, national and local solutions for safeguarding and risk management of children, young people and families
• A healthy, safe and stimulating environment that fulfils health & safety legislation and requirements
• The safeguarding requirements contained within mandatory local safeguarding training or nationally accredited equivalent
• The principles and practice of statutory frameworks, standards, guidance and Codes of Practice
• The quality assurance of health and social care in line with OFSTED, CQC and other regulatory bodies
• Approaches to developing and implementing improvement, including use of data
• The theories of intervention that meet the needs of children, young people and adults within the family
• The practice and principles of resource management
• How to create engagement and innovation in the development of practice
• The commissioning cycle and its application
• Inter-agency and multi-agency work and its role in ensuring positive outcomes
• Techniques to influence, persuade and negotiate with others
• Principles of: reflective practice; how people learn; effective continuing professional development
• Academic research, evidence-based data, policy developments, practice developments

Children, Young People and Family Managers will need to supplement the CORE standard programme with specialist skills and knowledge, by choosing ONE of the following options:

OPTION 1: Manager in Children's Residential Care

1a. Plays a leading role in developing the ethos of the home and creates a sense of purpose and clarity for the long term care and support of children and young people in residential care

• The principles of long term care and support for children and young people
• The legislation, the theoretical approaches and the compliance requirements for running a residential care home for the care and support of children and young people
• The theory and best practice in the use of restraint

OPTION 2: Children, Young People and Families Manager within the Community

2a. Creates an environment that promotes partnership working within a specific working context (e.g. early years, youth, youth justice, family work, special educational needs and disability etc.) and builds consensus and support for improving outcomes together

• The national systems of social welfare
• Local agencies and community groups
• Theoretical approaches to the practice and principles of effective multi-agency working

2b. Leads and supports practice development in the care and support of children young people and their families and carers, within contemporary society

• Theoretical approaches to contemporary social issues that affect family life and the care of children and young people
• The priority practice areas in the specific context and their responsibilities within it
• Ethical and professional approaches to practice in a partnership context

• Maintains and develops a leadership style that sets the ethos, aims and approach to the work
• Manages the application of professional judgement, standards and codes of practice
• Creates a strong sense of team purpose

'You implemented a working environment which supported dignity and human rights'

• Models an ethos that actively promotes equality, resilience, dignity and respects diversity and inclusion
• Actively seeks the views of others

'You helped us work through the challenges that faced us and ensured we were safe'

• Develops and delivers good quality supervision practice and decision making
• Demonstrates evidence based practice and models the effective use of up to date research and theories
• Identifies and manages risk
• Monitors, evaluates and improves the working environment to ensure it is safe

'You enabled us to focus on and achieve improved outcomes for children and young people'

• Sets clear, measurable objectives
• Uses data to evaluate the effectiveness of outcomes
• Develops, facilitates and leads changes in working practices that deliver improved outcomes
• Actively encourages the participation of children, young people and families in service improvement
• Manages the quality assurance of the service provided and proposes improvements

'You managed and made best use of the resources that we have'

• Manages and deploys total resource (e.g. people, finance, IT property) to maximise outcomes
• Mobilises collective action across service boundaries and within the community to manage resources
• Commissions and contract manages external providers

'You built the relationships with others that ensured effective communication and partnership work'

• Collaborates with partner agencies and resolves complex issues to achieve best outcomes
• Builds an ethos of learning and continuous improvement across partner organisations

'You ensured there was a culture of continuing professional development'

• Evaluates practice of team members
• Assesses learning styles of self and team members and identifies development opportunities
• Listens to, challenges and supports practitioners
• Engages in reflective practice and develops a learning culture across the team

Children, Young People and Family Managers will need to supplement the CORE standard programme with specialist skills and knowledge, by choosing ONE of the following options:

OPTION 1: Manager in Children's Residential Care

1a. Plays a leading role in developing the ethos of the home and creates a sense of purpose and clarity for the long term care and support of children and young people in residential care 

• Ensures each child receives the care and that the continuity of care for each child is in place
• Models the behaviour expected from staff and communicates a clear message about the responsibilities required in the care and support of children
• Manages and monitors safe systems of physical restraint

OPTION 2: Children, Young People and Families Manager within the Community

2a. Creates an environment that promotes partnership working within a specific working context (e.g. early years, youth, youth justice, family work, special educational needs and disability etc.) and builds consensus and support for improving outcomes together

• Proactively develops and sustains strategies for joint working , to improve outcomes
• Demonstrates good awareness of stakeholders
• Contributes to and initiates appropriate joint budget arrangements 

2b. Leads and supports practice development in the care and support of children young people and their families and carers, within contemporary society

• Leads, implement s and evaluates effective approaches to practice in specific contexts
• Audits and measures performance effectively within a multi-agency context
• Effectively uses and shares information and data
• Leads and develops new approaches to early intervention in a partnership practice

The values and behaviours expected of a Children, Young People and Family Manager 

Care: Respecting and valuing practitioners, encouraging and enabling them to deliver excellent practice  

Compassion: Consideration and concern, combined with robust challenge and support 

Courage: Having honest conversations and encouraging practitioners to offer their own solutions to improving practice

Communication: Building relationships with practitioners, peers and partner organisations 

Competence: Knowing the business, knowing what good practice looks like in others and having a relentless focus on delivering improved outcomes

Commitment: Demonstrating a strong moral purpose, modelling the ethos and building the skills of others and retaining and maintaining and own practice skills through effective CPD

Core Requirements – knowledge and skills These are based on the kind of statements we would typically expect practitioners to make about their manager

'You provided direction and ensured we worked as a cohesive team'