Em-Path: An empathic leadership framework with social workers’ perspectives at the core

Abstract This article aims to contribute to understandings of empathic leadership, with the development of a framework, Em-Path, created in an empirical social work study. The relational study aimed to broaden understanding of empathic practice. Situated in the context of child protection social work in England (2021–2023), the study was supported by five project sponsors from three local authority organizations. Twelve social workers each participated in three relational interviews, with eleven of the twelve participants and four of the five project sponsors attending member reflection groups. Interpretive processes were guided by reflexive thematic analysis, integrating and developing the narrative I-Poem method. Elements of the national policy context restricted social workers’ empathic capacity and whilst elements of organizational contexts supported social workers’ empathic capacity, organizational leaders perceived enactment of empathy proved fragile. The Em-Path framework represents required leadership practices to protect and promote social workers’ capacity for empathic practice with people who engage with social work services. Em-Path contributes to understanding of relational, empathic leadership, with implications for policy and practice.