Leaders in plain sight: what the experiences of early career social workers tell us about leadership in Scottish social work

Little is known about the application of leadership capabilities amongst early career social workers. This chapter draws from a five-year longitudinal study in Scotland exploring the work experiences and professional development of new social workers from the point of qualification. Findings indicate that dimensions of leadership are widely understood and enacted in everyday practice; however, professional capability and confidence in this area is restrained by the persistence of managerial organisational cultures and a diminished professional learning and development infrastructure. The Scottish Government, employers, and the Scottish Social Services Council could do more to bridge the gap between well-intentioned policy objectives and the lived experience of early career social workers keen to build on their emerging leadership knowledge and skills.