Factors affecting the policy role of social workers in local government leadership positions

Social workers who lead local social services hold key leadership positions within local government. As such, they have the potential to influence the development of local social policies, which significantly impact the well-being of service users in their communities. However, this level of social work leadership has received little scholarly attention. Conducted in Israel, where heads of local government social services (HLGSSs) are legally required to be trained social workers with prior experience in social work practice, this study aimed to explore the factors that influence the involvement of HLGSSs in policy formulation within their respective local authorities. It utilized semi-structured interviews with twenty-five HLGSSs from diverse localities. The findings revealed that motivational, facilitative, opportunity, and environmental factors influenced the extent to which social workers in leadership roles contributed to policy development.