Key elements of supervision

and methods

Presented by Dr. Mamaleka

M.M
Date: 29.03.2022
Presentation
outline
Understand and learn about the
following:
• Key elements of supervision
• Types of supervision
• Methods of supervision
• Prons and cons of supervision
methods
• Techniques used in supervision
 • Protects clients, by reducing the risks of serious
AIMS OF oversight and assist in making the social worker to
reflect on his/her practice with the clients( behavior,
SUPERVISIO thoughts, feelings and general approaches
• Supports practitioners, and ensures that professional
N standards and quality services are delivered by
competent social workers
• Protect the image of the organization by promoting
best practice, provide confidence to staff to practice
safely and ethically, encourages positive culture,
increase social workers skills in decision making and
problem solving, reduces staff turn over
The elements of effective social work
supervision
• Munson (2002:12-13), Falender and Shafranske (2004:28), Coulshed
et al. (2006:168) and Rowe and Haywood (2007:10) These elements
entail:

Regularity consistency
Structure

Documentation
Work related Evaluation
 structure refers to the available
formats for conducting social
work supervision such as
Structure

The
individual or group supervision
or a combination of the two
formats.

elements of Both the supervisor and the

effective
Involves the aims and objectives
social worker have to prepare
of supervision, contracts,
for the supervision session,
agenda, dates, time, meeting
including the joint responsibility
place and so forth.
to compile an agenda.

social work
supervision The reason behind structuring is
to give shape and focus to the
supervision session.
It gives weight to the
seriousness and importance of
the session and gives the social
worker the impression that the
session is closely and strictly
controlled.
 2. Regularity

The
• Effective social work supervision is performed on
a regular basis.
• If the arrangement is made that supervision will

elements of be performed on a monthly basis, it has to be

carried out that way.
• The purpose here is to try and be more on par
effective with the work of the social worker,
• being able to identify gaps and being able to

social work follow up on any and all agreements made.

• The rationale behind this is to ensure that the
social worker is not left alone for too long
supervision without guidance.
• Another reason is to assess the success and
failures of any decisions made
 3 Consistency
• The supervisor has to ensure that the
The elements style and approach used with the
social worker is consistent.
of effective • This is done to assist the social worker
social work in not forming any doubts and
uncertainties as to what is going to
supervision happen in the next session.
• This helps the social worker to gain
confidence and adjust to the
supervision session accordingly
whenever necessary
The
4. WORK RELATED

Supervision process should be always on work related matters

elements of that includes

Social work methods

effective Interventions

social work Techniques

supervision Approaches

Process
 5. Evaluation
- Effective social work supervision needs to be evaluated in order to
assess the developments and the failures of the social worker
The elements - come up with alternative approaches where deemed necessary.

of effective
- Evaluation entails providing positive and/or negative feedback so that
both parties (i.e. the supervisor and the supervisee)

social work
- Critically assess how services are performed, giving recognition and
credit in all cases where a job has been performed well and providing
support with a view on the personal and professional development
supervision of the social worker.
- The performance appraisal may also be used to evaluate the work of
the social worker and give guidance where it is needed.
 6. Documentation
- Reamer (2005:326) points the way:
“Careful documentation and record
keeping protect practitioners against
The elements allegations of ethical misconduct and
professional negligence, guard clients’

of effective privacy, and facilitate the delivery of

high-quality services.”

social work - Documentation is at all times important

in supervision and confirms that the
supervision service actually occurred.
supervision - Therefore it is helpful for both the
supervisor and the social worker to
document the process of supervision
which includes keeping records of all the
agreements made and plans laid down
Types of Structured Unstructured
superivision
Structured supervision

This kind of supervision is usually planned

It has agenda, goals for supervision and activities to be performed

It is prepared by both the supervisor and the supervisee

It have time schedules, place and dates

Unstructured supervision

This kind of supervision is not planned

It can be directed by either the supervisor or supervisee directed depends on

the issues to be addressed

Sometimes the agenda is not discussed as the agenda will be the item that
needs attention

Both these types are beneficial for supervision process, however they need to
be managed and be balance
Methods of supervision

Individual supervision

Supervision methods

Group supervision
Individual
supervision
• One-to-one supervision with a supervisor
and a supervisee.
• Can be face-to-face, using computer
(virtual: Microsoft teams, zoom, skype etc)
by telephone, or by email, although the
latter is still a relatively new area and
requires additional attention in relation to
relevant practical, ethical and legal issues.
• The aim here is to develop the supervisee.
• The supervisor focuses on the learning
needs of their supervisee.
 Advantages of individual supervision

• Supervisee receive individual attention

• It enforces participation
• The supervisor is able to know the individual weaknesses and strengths of the supervisees
• The supervisor is able to identify the learning and training needs of the supervisee
• It builds a professional relationship between supervisee and supervisor as they interact on one to
one basis
• It promotes growth and independency of the supervisee
• It gives the supervisee to reflect on his or her performance
• Reflect on practices.
• Deliver better outcomes through exploring and discussing new ideas.
• Enhance problem solving skills.
• Improve clarity and objectivity in decision-making.
• Supervision empowers, motivates and increases work satisfaction
 • Time consuming
Disadvantages • subjective supervision if relationship is not
good between supervisee and supervisor
of individual • the supervisee may feel intimidated or vice
supervision versa
• supervisee cannot learn from other
supervisee’s experiences
• teamwork is not strengthened
Individual supervision techniques

• Bernard and Goodyear (1998) describe in detail the different techniques offered by individual supervision. Below is a brief summary of
each:
Self Report
• The ‘self report’ technique requires the supervisee to recollect and discuss sessions she /he had.
• This allows the supervisee to reflect in detail their own experiences with their clients.
• However, the effectiveness of the technique is greatly affected by the insightfulness and observation skills of the supervisee.
Process Notes
• This technique requires the supervisee, after a case (interview) session, to write comprehensive notes about the processes encountered.
• This is not a literal account of what occurred in case (interview) session, rather an introspective description of the experience from the
supervisee’s perspective.
• The discussion of these notes in supervision can create a productive and meaningful supervisory environment.
• This s well depends on the supervisee’s ability to accurately observe internal and external occurrences.
Individual supervision
techniques
Audiotape

The use of an audiotape of the supervisee counselling sessions is one of

the most widely used technique of supervision.

Although supervisees are often hesitant to embark on what seems like a

very disclosing process, with practice, it can become a valuable tool for
both supervisees and supervisors.

While recording counselling sessions is a useful supervision resource, it

is important to also consider the impact that this can have on clients
and potentially on the therapeutic relationship.

Clients must be given the opportunity to refuse to participate in the

recorded sessions, and it is essential that their expectation of
confidentiality is assured.
 • Videotape
• This can be an expensive and bulky resource, but videotaping supervisee
counselling sessions provides the most valuable source of information for the
supervision of all the techniques discussed.
• The problems with this method are that the supervisee needs to be comfortable
with the use of technology.
• Otherwise, it can cause excessive performance anxiety, and it might provide too
much information causing both the supervisee and supervisor to be overwhelmed.
Individual Bernard and Goodyear (1998) suggest six guidelines for using video in supervision.
These are:

supervision - Focus supervision by setting realistic goals for the videotaped therapy session.
- Discuss the internal processes of the supervisee during the videotaped therapy

techniques session.
- Select tape segments that focus on performance that the supervisee is able to
change with corrective feedback.
- Use supervisor comments to create a moderate discrepancy between performance
and the target goal.
- Refine goals moderately as the videotape review must be seen in the larger context
of supervisee development.
- Maintain a moderate level of challenge so that the supervisee is stimulated to grow
without becoming overly threatened.
 Live Observation & Live Supervision
• Live observation as its name suggests is simply when a supervisor observes through
a one-way mirror, the supervisee conducting a counselling session with a client.
• It’s a supervision that allows the supervisee to receive immediate personal
supervision at the very time of the interview. Eg telephonic link with the supervisor,
using one way mirror
• It’s a gaining direct access to supervisee’s practice with scope , if appropriate, to
correct any bad habits
Individual • Implementation needs skill on the part of the supervisee

supervision • Both live observation and live supervision provide a more complete picture of the
supervisee’s skills than audio or videotape, and allow the supervisor to intervene in
the case of an emergency. Live supervision can be conducted by using any of the

techniques following methods:

• Bug-in-the-Ear – an ear receiver that provides brief, one-way communication from
the supervisor.
• Monitoring – the supervisor monitors the session and steps in and runs the session
if necessary.
• In Vivo – therapy is interrupted and a supervision consultation occurs in front of the
client/s, then the supervisee continues the session.
• Walk-in – is more of a therapy intervention where the supervisor enters the room at
a pre-arranged time and talks with the supervisee and the client/s.
 • Phone-in and Consultation Breaks – the session is
interrupted so the supervisee can receive input from the
supervisor. This is done either by a phone call in the
session or a break where the supervisee leaves the room

Individual for consultation with the supervisor.

• Using Computer Technology – a computer monitor is
supervision placed behind the client and the supervisor would type
comments for the supervisee to read during the session.
techniques • As live supervision require pre-session planning and post-
session debriefing.
• It is essential that the supervisor is sensitive to the
supervisee’s anxiety and vulnerability with the use of this
form of supervision.
 Advantages of live supervision
• If managed correctly it provides a more profound
learning experience for supervisees. The supervisee get
guidance, support immediately
• A more protective environment for clients, ie, the clients
are able to receive appropriate services
Live/observation • The supervisee learns in the process
supervision • The supervisor can be able to use the four steps of micro-
techniques training:
1) Teach one skill at a time,
2) Present the skill using modelling or demonstration,
3) Practice the skill;
4) Allow for mastery using practice and feedback.
 Disadvantages of live supervision
• It increases the practical demands of supervision in time, cost
of facilities, and organising appointment schedules.
• If not handled effectively by the supervisor it can also decrease
the supervisee’s initiative and creativity,
Individual • The therapeutic relationship could potentially be negatively
affected by the intrusion of this form of supervision.
supervision • Disrupt supervisee concentration

techniques • Disrupt flow of interview

• Might cause discomfort on the client
• Might cause mistrust between supervisee and the client on his
or her competencies
• The supervisee might lose confidence in himself or herself
Group supervision

• It’s a regular meeting of a group of

supervisees/social workers with a
designated supervisor for the
purpose of advancing their
knowledge and skills as practitioners,
so that they can perform their work
effectively and efficiently with their
clients or generally in their service
• It involves supervisor as a group
leader and social workers/ students
as participants
• Supervision functions are
implemented in this method
• Supervision sessions are prepared,
planned, scheduled and structured
and work related
 Advantages
• A more economic use of time money and expertise ( Hawkins and Shohet, 2006; Proctor 2000). In other
words it saves lot of aspects
• A supportive atmosphere of peers is provided in a group and both shares anxieties and realizing that

Group •
others are facing similar issue ( Hawkins and Shohet, 2006). Provides opportunity for sharing .
Supervisees receive inputs ,reflections and feedback from their colleagues as well as the supervisor
( Hawkins and Shohet, 2006) and therefore have wider range of skills and abilities (Proctor 2000) . It

supervision
facilitate the giving and receiving feedback within a supporting setting.
• The group can give a way for the supervisor to test out their emotional or intuitive response to material
presented by checking if group members response the same way ( Hawkins and Shohet, 2006). It
Encourage interaction
• Within a group there is a wide range of life experience, age, race, personality types and therefore a greater
likelihood of someone in the group be able to empathize with the supervisee or supervisee’s client
( Hawkins and Shohet, 2006). It encourage development of group cohesion
 • Action technique such as role reversal, and re-enactment
can be used within the group to create an understanding
( Hawkins and Shohet, 2006)
• Group supervision allows learning to be gained from the
supervision taking place in a group, giving opportunities to
Group learn how to run groups and to reflect on dynamics of
groups ( Hawkins and Shohet, 2006). They learn from each
supervision other and are able to generate a corporate sense of
responsibility for problem solving
advantages • The supervisor apply the principles of group dynamic to
build positive group moral and encourage a supportive
atmosphere
• The supervisor handles group feelings and subgroups
development openly and honestly
 Disadvantages

The impact of group dynamics on the process can be negative and undermine the process of
supervision ( Hawkins and Shohet, 2006)

That can lead other members feel inferior to ask or contribute or share experiences in front of
other members

There can be less individual time per supervision ( Hawkins and Shohet, 2006). As the
supervisor at times not able to see the participation of other members

Group Supervisee may work on different developmental level from supervision (Proctor and Inskipp
2001)
supervision Inability to learn and identify all members learning and training needs

Group supervision does not mirror the individual work the supervise may be doing compared (
Hawkins and Shohet, 2006)

The group can be preoccupied with their own dynamics and lose focus of the supervision
( Hawkins and Shohet, 2006)

Inability to control if it is large group

 • Supervisee may focus on a particular function of
supervision and leading to conflicting ideas within the
group about the function of supervision (Cohen and
Osterweil, 1986
• Groups can establish very strong norms eg
Group competitive spirit that are hard to challenge and can
undermine individual supervisees ( Hawkins and
supervision Shohet, 2006)
disadvantages • Poor group supervision can create boredom, anxiety
and purposelessness which is more damaging than
poor individual supervision(Proctor 2000)
• Some members does not portray true picture of
themselves
Reflective exercise

Think about your previous supervisors. These may include significant figures
outside your current profession, such as previous managers, mentors or
teachers.
• In broad terms, were they helpful or not to your development and in what
ways?
• Provide factors which were significant about his or her supervision.
• Which factors were influencing your supervision eg race, gender, age etc
and how.
• Which method of supervision was applied and how positively and
negatively those methods impacted on you?
• Consider how the way you were supervised impacted on: a) your practice
with users b) your team and colleague relationships c) how you used
supervision d) your confidence both before and after supervision.