Part 2

The role of leadership on Child Protective Services

The role of leadership on Child Protective Services

Ana Margarida Graça & Ana Passos
graca.anamargarida@gmail.com

Abstract
Recent research shows that team’s reflexivity upon their objectives, strategies and processes enhances team effectiveness. However, the role that leaders play in this process needs to be clarified. The present study aims to investigate the mediation role of leadership in the relationship between team reflexivity and perceived performance in child protection teams. In Child and Youth Protection Commissions (CPCJ), their presidents’ legal competencies are defined in law, but not their specific leadership competencies. CPCJ have functional autonomy to apply promotion and protection actions for children and young in danger, which demands a manifest complexity and they can also have a strong impact in child’s life projects. Participants consisted of 593 elements of 109 CPCJ teams, from the total of the 282 CPCJ existents in Continental Portugal and Islands. Members answered a survey designed for this purpose. Individual survey answers were aggregated to the team level for analyses. Results from hierarchical regression analyses show that leadership total mediates the relationship between team reflexivity and perceived performance. Practical implications for Child and Youth Services will be discussed, giving special attention to the role of team leaders.

Keywords: team leadership, reflexivity, performance, CPCJ.

Author(s)

Ana Margarida Graça & Ana Passos

Ana Margarida Graça & Ana Passos
graca.anamargarida@gmail.com

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