Critical Evaluation of Leadership Skills and Theories in Social Care

Assignment Plan Essay: 3,000 words
LO= Learning outcome
LO1) Evaluate theories and concepts to explain organisational change processes and obstacles to change in Social Care Practice
LO2 Propose ideas or information to generate solutions of how leadership models are put into practice personally, locally and globally.
LO3 Evaluate how new techniques and processes can affect your own leadership performance
This is a critical evaluation of leadership skills and theories. Please follow the assignment brief carefully. Be sure to familiarise with the learning outcomes for this module. Please use the third person throughout (except for the final reflection when you may use the first person) Please remember, this is a Social Care module and this is where your main focus should lie.
Suggested Plan
Introduction (350 words)
Your introduction should outline the aims of the assignment.
You might like to begin with a quotation that sums up the skills of a good leader, and the relevance of these skills to social care. Be sure to reference carefully throughout the introduction and through to the conclusion.
Your introduction should signpost the direction of the assignment and note the issues you will be discussing. This might include theories of change, leadership models and theories, and leadership skills and qualities.
Main discussion
This should be broken down into issues. Do not use sub-heading, instead use linking sentences.
Leading Change (600 words)
This section may begin with an overview of the dimensions of leadership and leadership skills, qualities and values in the social care profession. Consider the importance of leadership skills in social care for the individual user of services, the practitioner, the organisation and the wider profession.
Leadership models (600 words)
Your next section should discuss definitions of leaderships models and theory. You should compare at least two leadership theories and explain how they are put into practice at an individual, organisational and global level (you may wish to refer to the characteristics of strong global leaders e.g. cultural competency). The models could include autocratic styles, coaching styles, laissez faire styles, but there are others.
Resistance to Change (600 words)
This final section should evaluate how resistance to change is tackled by good leaders and how they negotiate challenges and obstacles to change. Here you should draw attention to models of individual and team change. You should link your discussion to barriers such as fear, lack of leadership, loss of identity and communication breakdown. You should also evaluate how persuasion and advanced communication skills can guide an organisation through change.
You may also make reference to more complex challenges such as stress management, emotional intelligence and self-awareness in this section to explain how leaders negotiate resistance within a team or organisation. However, the word count may only allow for a brief overview of one of these areas.
Conclusion (350 words)
Your conclusions should summarise the three sections above. Your conclusion is important and should follow a logical pattern leading to a sound judgement. A conclusion should mirror an introduction. Before you draw conclusions, have you done everything you said you would do in your introduction?
Concluding Reflection (500 words)
The art of being a good leader is dependent on being able to reflect on one’s performance. Complete a SWOT analysis and consider your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats in leadership knowledge and skills. Propose three key action points for development.
Reference List Please be aware that you must reference your sources. It is advised that you follow the link:https://www(dot)wlv(dot)ac(dot)uk/lib/skills-for-learning/referencing/ to ensure that you reference correctly.
The word count on this plan is only a guide. Please do not feel inhibited by sticking exactly to the word count on each of these sections.
I will continue adding books to the reading list, but feel free to explore books and journal articles on leadership from other disciplines. Psychology books on what makes a good leader can be usefully used as can books on business leaders. But please remember, this is a Social Care module and this is where your main focus should lie.