Supporting registered managers
Registered managers are a key professional group of leaders. They’re pivotal in workforce development and ensuring the delivery of services underpinned by the principles of personalisation, protection, dignity and choice.
There are around 23,500 registered managers listed with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who have responsibility for running an adult care service in England.
Although there’s no professional statutory register, CQC regulations expect registered managers to have a core set of skills, a health and social care leadership level 5 qualification and experience of working in the sector. It’s their job to provide leadership and ensure their registered organisation meets CQC quality standards.
The Manager Induction Standards can ensure that new and aspiring managers have a firm foundation as they begin to develop the core skills and knowledge required by CQC.
The regulations expect leaders and managers to ensure that high-quality and person-centred care is delivered. They expect them to support learning and innovation and to also promote an open and fair culture. The Manager Induction Standards cover all of these areas, encouraging managers to consider wider issues to support them to meet the CQC regulations. In addition, they can support innovative practice directing the manager to think outside of the box in leading a quality service.
Support from your organisation
The standards are intended as a support tool for both managers and their organisations to track and work towards development for both new and aspiring managers. Many of the standards speak to the responsibilities of the manager in their own development however they should not need to do this alone. The organisation you work for also has a responsibility to you, to support your development and inform you of any changes in the sector that might impact the way in which you work or how you run your service. Organisations should embed good communication with their managers, so they have the support and guidance they need to continue to develop personally and to develop, grow and improve the services they are responsible for.
Where to next?
Introductory Modules for Managers
Skills for Care has recently redeveloped our Digital Learning for Managers eLearning modules which we are now calling Introductory Modules for Managers. The new eLearning modules offer engaging introductions to key topic areas to pique learners’ interest and provide opportunities to reflect, ideas to improve practices, and motivation to learn more. Based on the Manager Induction Standards, the re-developed modules now feature up to date content and increased accessibility for learners. For more information visit: Introductory Modules for Managers
Care Certificate
The MIS refer specifically to the roles of managers in adult social care settings. They don’t cover knowledge about how to practice in a general social care role – the Care Certificate contains this knowledge at induction level, describing what is needed to work safely and effectively. The Care Certificate should be completed by all workers new in post in adult social care.
Usually, new managers come into post with previous experience of social care so already have the knowledge and competence outlined in the Care Certificate.
Managers who are new to social care will find the Care Certificate relevant to support their understanding of working in the sector, which is vital to managing and leading a team to deliver good quality care. The MIS (2023) assume that the manager has all the information contained within the Care Certificate.
Leadership Qualities Framework
The Leadership Qualities Framework (LQF) describes what good leadership looks like in a variety of settings and situations. Its aim is to show how good leadership behaviours can be developed at all levels from the frontline to the boardroom. The MIS have been revised with the LQF in mind. The standards link closely to the LQF but they are very different tools.
The LQF is a resource for leaders at all levels in social care and aims to identify and develop leadership qualities. The MIS specifically begins to equip managers as they start a new role, addressing the issues they may face in the role. For managers they complement each other.
Access the LQF.
From the MIS to the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management in Adult Care
Induction is not a qualification. Similar to the Care Certificate, the MIS lists what a new manager should achieve before being regarded as fully inducted into their new position.
The MIS are knowledge based and they don’t require any demonstration of skills (competences) - although demonstration might be a way of evidencing knowledge.
At the end of induction, the assessor (such as the new manager’s line manager) should complete the certificate to say the MIS have been completed. The certificate has some value as external evidence, but it’s not a qualification.
Whether the evidence produced in the MIS process can later be accepted for any qualification, such as the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management in Adult Care, is for the official assessors of the qualification to judge. But if the new manager has good evidence of learning and assessment from their MIS process, they should seek to have it included as a contribution to any later diploma assessment.
If the manager progresses to the level 5 diploma it will be the diploma assessor’s responsibility to decide whether the level of answer they have recorded for their induction is sufficient for the diploma unit they are being assessed against. If it’s not, the answer may need to be topped up to the appropriate level. Find out more information about the diploma.
Lead to Succeed
Lead to succeed is a practical learning programme aimed at aspiring managers and deputies in adult social care services. Delivered over a series of five interactive modules, Lead to Succeed is at the forefront of the more formal development of aspiring new managers and deputies. This learning programme will help individuals to develop their leadership and management potential, gain knowledge and be supported and challenged to put this into practice.
Learners completing Lead to succeed will understand how successful behaviours and practical strategies can support them in their day-to-day work. They will be challenged to put these into practice, boosting their capacity to lead and manage effectively.
Find out more information on the Lead to Succeed programme.
Well-Led
Well-led is a practical leadership development programme aimed at registered managers and other managers currently working in adult social care services. Delivered over a series of four interactive modules, Well-led is a national development programme for both new and experienced managers of adult social care services.
This learning programme is grounded in the reality of social care delivery and was developed in partnership with managers familiar with the day-to-day challenges of leading a care team. The programme is underpinned by models of leadership that can be practically applied to deliver change and promote best practice. It was designed to enable leaders to deliver care in line with the expectations of a well-led service.
Well-led will help individuals to develop their leadership and management potential, gain knowledge and be supported and challenged to put this into practice. It includes an emphasis on reflection, helping individuals to learn from their day-to-day experiences and think about how they can do things differently or get better at recognising what they do well.
Unlike undertaking formal qualifications, which can often feel like a solitary process, Well-led connects managers with their peers. Find out more information about Well-Led