By Colleen Haller | March 31, 2026
Last Updated on March 31, 2026
Colleen Haller, National Learning and Development Lead at Skills for Care, discusses what inclusive and collaborative leadership means in adult social care, and how to lead from the bottom-up.
When I started in the world of adult social care some 37, nearly 38, years ago as a wide-eyed 14-year-old sent from her school to do work experience, I never imagined that in my 20s I would have my first managerial role. This developed into my passion for learning and development, taking me into the world of leadership within the adult social care sector.
My goal as a leader has always been to inspire others working in social care, and support people to become leaders and managers – just as others had inspired and supported me in my early days in the sector.
Words to lead by
The leaders who have inspired me most in my career were the communicators – the ones who would share and motivate me to achieve great things by working collectively and collaboratively. They inspired me to make a difference, and most of all to challenge and become a changemaker. Like me, they always ensured that those we were supporting were always firmly at the centre of everything we did.
I always recall one especially great leader saying to me, ‘People are not mushrooms Colleen, they do not grow well in the dark.’ This resonated with me and I understood immediately what she meant; communicate and great things shall happen, do not communicate and there will be no growth.
However, there is a common habit in workplace leadership and management to gatekeep information. I have heard leaders and managers say, ‘Only the team leaders need to know that’ or ‘The seniors will handle it.’ These comments are made with the intention of protecting teams from “unnecessary” details, but in reality, it keeps team members in the dark. This suppresses the very creativity and connection that makes a workplace thrive.
The magic of the ‘All-in approach’
When you open the floor to the whole team, something beautiful happens. You are not just sharing information; you are inviting a melting pot of ideas, thoughts and opinions. True creativity does not come from a top-down directive; it comes when everyone in your community has a voice. Whether they want to write their ideas down or talk to you, to get their point across, the method does not matter as long as they are heard.
Breaking down these silos – not just in teams, but with families, carers and those drawing on care – is truly transformative, creating a shift to a collaborative way of working. This shift moves us away from management and toward true person-centred care. Take, for example, the traditional staff Christmas party. Usually, the team goes out, and the residents stay in. But what happens when you flip the script? By bringing the party into the building – inviting families, the community and the residents – the walls come down.
Key outcomes include:
- We learn cultural traditions: We share dances, songs and dishes and our stories.
- The people we have the privilege to support see the team: They see the people behind the uniforms.
- The team sees the person: They realise that ‘Doris’ is not just a resident in room 40. She is a living, breathing human being, with a history and a soul.
- We become community: The place in which we belong, are recognised, seen and heard. The very place in which we interact with each other.
- We become us: The place that we are accepted in, to be our own unique selves, without judgment, and this is usually down to the simple fact that we are communicating with each other and in turn learning, accepting and becoming.
The freedom to be brave and courageous
When we start to become brave and have the courage to openly communicate, build connections and to let teams be innovative the rewards are clear. When you place trust in your people, you will better succeed at leading on a shared vision, strategy and culture of providing care and support that is outstanding.
Stop managing, start sharing
The bottom line is this – start thinking your team can handle ‘knowing’ and they will support each other and you to manage it. When you stop keeping people in the dark and start treating your staff like partners in the process, they will surprise you. They will support you. Ultimately, they will innovate in ways you never expected. Let’s bring everyone into the light. The results might just be beautiful.
Colleen Haller is National Learning and Development Lead at Skills for Care.
Skills for Care’s updated Leadership Qualities Framework covers key values and behaviours for great leadership in social care. Learn more here.