One minute guide: Workforce development

To achieve our ambition of being a child friendly city placing children at the heart of all  decisions that affect them the children’s workforce is critical. The values, behaviours, insight and approaches demonstrated by leaders, managers and practitioners directly influence the quality of services experienced by children, young people and their families.

In recognition of this, Leeds has invested in a range of programmes, partnerships and initiatives designed to create an environment in which our workforce can flourish. Learning and development play a vital role in building a more integrated, skilled and confident workforce. They support the development of a shared language and a common purpose key principles underpinning national legislation and statutory guidance, such as the Children Act 2004 and SEND Code of Practice (2015), and influential reviews including Stable Homes, Built on Love (2023), as well as local priorities set out in the Leeds Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP). 

What we have in Leeds

Leeds has a dedicated Children’s Workforce Development Team that works collaboratively to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement. This supports the development of a stable and empowered workforce, able to nurture potential within colleagues, children, young people and families.

The team is responsible for ensuring that the key behaviours and values set out in the Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP) underpin both practice and professional development across the children’s workforce, supporting the Child Friendly Leeds 12 Wishes. Learning and development opportunities are grounded in evidence-based research and are regularly reviewed in response to feedback and service need. The team also works in partnership with external experts, where appropriate, to design and deliver training that reflects best practice and is informed by objective analysis of local need and context within Leeds.

What the Children’s Workforce Development Team offer

The Workforce Development Team delivers a blend of statutory and tailored learning, providing a core internal offer across Leeds Children and Families alongside a traded service for external partners. Core training includes:

• Restorative practice
• safeguarding
• Safer recruitment
• attachment
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and
• therapeutic crisis intervention

The team also designs and manages a broad range of learning and development programmes, including induction for new staff in social work and Residential Services, and apprenticeship pathways to support career progression within Children and Families Services. Around 70% of the team’s activity is driven by statutory training requirements, primarily supporting social workers, foster carers and residential staff. In addition, the team responds to specific service needs through bespoke learning and contributes to sector-led improvement by delivering Restorative Practice training to other local authorities.  

The social work development offer in Leeds

The Workforce Development Team, Advanced Practitioners and the Principal Social Worker work collaboratively to deliver a comprehensive social work development offer. This ensures high-quality student placements and a strong Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme, supporting recruitment, retention and progression through a clear career pathway. Practitioners are supported to continuously develop their knowledge and skills, enabling effective practice with vulnerable children and families while meeting professional registration requirements.

The social work offer includes: 

• a structured first-year programme combining induction, Action Learning Sets, academic input, mentoring and ongoing assessment to support development in practice 
• ongoing training aligned to career progression, the professional capabilities framework and post-qualifying statements, with regular updates reflecting changes in legislation and guidance, informed by leading academic expertise 
• leadership development through aspiring manager and leader programmes, alongside a team manager induction and training offer 
• a rolling programme of research-informed masterclasses
• access to national learning through Research in practice and Making research count

This offer is underpinned by a strong commitment to restorative practice, ensuring work is done with children, young people and families. Leeds is committed to ensuring all social workers access a minimum of five days of learning and development each year to support ongoing professional development and maintain Social Work England registration. 

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