Field Supervision in Social Work NKU Field Supervisor Training

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Field Supervision in Social WorkNKU Field
Supervisor Training

• by Rachael Winters MSW, LISW

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Objectives

• Definition of Supervision
• Components of Supervision
• Recommended Strategies
• Most Common Ethical Dilemmas

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Supervision Definition
A face to face interaction between supervisor
and supervisee (student) to enhance professional
skills, knowledge and attitudes in order to
achieve competency in providing quality
patient/client care.
Supervision is not an email, a quick interaction
in a hallway, lunch chat, an evaluation, a phone
call or as needed. Most new social workers
have never had what we define as supervision in
a work setting.
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Components of Supervision

1. Administrative focuses on accountability. Is
   the work being performed? Is student following
   agency policies? Attendance, timeliness, dress,
   professional writing, professional language, etc.
2. Educational Learning skills such as
   motivational interviewing or suicide risk
   assessment. Development of self-awareness.
   Gathering local, state and federal
   resourceslearning the system.
3. Supportive Decreasing job related stress and
   increasing job performance. Debriefing stressful
   situations, linking work to mission of agency,
   linking work to values of social work and helping
   student develop their ability to disconnect from
   work in a healthy manner.

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Supervision Strategies

• Weekly meeting with you and the student.
• Conducted in a place protected from
  interruptions. This may not be possible but do
  your best!
• Focus on objectives of the student learning
  contract, case management, development of skills/
  knowledge and development of self awareness.
• Use tools case files, case presentations, role
  playing.
• Document your time and items covered.

Stay Away From Providing personal therapy for
the student, getting bogged down in discussions
about their difficult work/school schedule or
doing their homework for them.
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5 Dangerous Ds in Supervision
Dual Relationships A dual relationship exists
when a relationship other than a professional one
exists. Boundary Issues/violations Real life
Role Difficulties Case Manager turned
Supervisor Work Family long term employees
Red Flags Extended sessions with clients,
overprotecting, over-identifying,
self-disclosure, touching, off-hours contact,
giving out cell phone number, gift giving, hiding
from a supervisor.
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5 Dangerous Ds in Supervision
Description of Position Expectations Unclear
Job Descriptions or Duties Right to routine
supervision Pro-Active Performance
Evaluations Clear Disciplinary Actions
Red Flag Absence of on-going disciplinary
actions but you give a horrible performance
evaluation or a mid-term evaluation.
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5 Dangerous Ds in Supervision
Documentation Protection Against Allegations Fair
Disciplinary Actions Supervision Delivery of high
quality services
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5 Dangerous Ds in Supervision

• Duty to Warn Duty to Act
• Warning 3rd a party of potential danger.
• Assessing for Suicidal Risk
• Calling for Help What is my Role?
• Identifying and Documenting issues around child
  and adult protection

Red Flag Ignoring or being in denial of serious
situations. Not challenging the system or
surrendering to how things are.
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5 Dangers Ds in Supervision

• Dilemmas, Decision Making and Discretion
• Provide Code of Ethics to supervisee and review
  problem areas when cases are presented.
• Discuss and Reflect on past ethical situations
  with student.
• Communicate Dilemmas before they become
  nightmares.
• Document from the beginning
• Conduct an Ethical Audit with your team.

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Group Exercise!
Please identify which possible dangerous
dilemma(s) you have encountered and how you might
handle these situations with a student in
supervision. What questions might you ask of the
student? What administrative, educational and
supportive responses might you use?

• Dual Relationships
• Description of Position (expectations)
• Documentation
• Duty to Warn
• Dilemmas

• Administrative
• Educational
• Supportive

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Ethical Supervision in Social Work

• Thank you!
• References
• Supervisor, Beware Ethical Dangers in
  Supervision
• Dewane, Claudia
• Social Work Today Vol. 7, No.4 p. 34
• Ethical Decision Making Meets the Real World of
  Field Work
• Mattison, Marian
• The New Social Worker Vol. 10 No. 2
• Supervision and the Clinical Social Worker
• Coleman, Mirean
• Clinical Social Work Vol. 3 No. 2