We all know that there are challenging times ahead and that we will need to be innovative to rise to challenges as they occur. We also know that effective leadership, results in the best delivery and performance for people who use services, their carers and all of us working in the social services sector. Developing leadership at all levels is vital if we are to find solutions to some of the challenges we encounter:

• Challenge current practice and thinking e.g. so why do we do it this way…
• Think differently and take some (intelligent) risks e.g. if I could change one thing it would be…

Step into Leadership – Dr Brian Howieson, University of Stirling

Ms Shirley Cairney, Inverclyde Council

This is an interactive session – we expect participation!

Dr Brian Howieson PhD; MPhil; MBA; BSc is a Foundation for Management Education Fellow at the University of Stirling. His previous role was Head of Training, Education and Professional Development for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. Prior to this post, he was a commissioned officer in the British Armed Forces for 19 years. Brian is Programme Director for Master’s-level component of the new NHS Scotland Management Training Scheme and the MBA in Finance with Foreign Trade University in Vietnam. He guest lectures at various universities including St Andrews (where he is co-author of Leadership in Organisations MLitt Elective) and is academic consultant to the new MSc Degree in Positive Leadership Practice at Edinburgh Napier University.

Shirley’s background is residential childcare, and she has been in this field for the last 28 years. She has been a manager for the last 26 years, and has worked in Argyll and Bute, Glasgow City and Inverclyde. She took up her current post as external manager for Residential Services, Inverclyde in March 2004. Shirley is a qualified social worker and has studied both at Glasgow and Robert Gordon universities. She has a real passion for improving the lives of children and young people and has been one of the driving forces behind corporate parenting in Inverclyde. To ensure that looked after children and young people are at the very centre of planning, participation and decision making, Shirley ensures Leadership is fundamental to her practice and the staff she works with.

Programme:

• 9.30am - Registration
• 9.55am - Welcome
• 10am - Brian Howieson
• 1pm - Lunch
• 1.30pm - Shirley Cairney
• 2.10pm - Leadership films, common ground and your ‘Step into Leadership’
• 3.30pm - Close