Field Supervision in Social Work NKU Field Supervisor Training by Rachael Winters MSW, LISW.

Field Supervision in Social Work

NKU Field Supervisor Training

by Rachael Winters MSW, LISW

Great FrontPage features

Objectives

• Definition of Supervision

• Components of Supervision

• Recommended Strategies

• Most Common Ethical Dilemmas


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.


Components of Supervision1. 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 resources…learning 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.


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.

5 Dangerous D’s in SupervisionDual 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.


5 Dangerous D’s 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.


5 Dangerous D’s in SupervisionDocumentation

Protection Against Allegations

Fair Disciplinary Actions

Supervision

Delivery of high quality services


5 Dangerous D’s in SupervisionDuty 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”.


5 Dangers D’s in SupervisionDilemmas, 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.


Group Exercise!

•Dual Relationships

Description of Position (expectations)

Documentation

Duty to Warn

Dilemmas

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?

•Administrative

•Educational

•Supportive


Ethical Supervision in Social Work

Thank you!

References:

Supervisor, Beware: Ethical Dangers in SupervisionDewane, ClaudiaSocial Work Today Vol. 7, No.4 p. 34

Ethical Decision Making Meets the Real World of Field WorkMattison, MarianThe New Social Worker Vol. 10 No. 2

Supervision and the Clinical Social WorkerColeman, MireanClinical Social Work Vol. 3 No. 2

Field Supervision in Social Work NKU Field Supervisor Training by Rachael Winters MSW, LISW.

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Transcript of Field Supervision in Social Work NKU Field Supervisor Training by Rachael Winters MSW, LISW.