Abstract

This oral paper presentation shares key findings that emerged from a small-scale exploratory qualitative study co-created and co-conducted by a second cohort of practitioners, academics and educators engaging in a Facilitated Practice-based Research (FPR) programme (Deacon 2023) within the North-east Social Work Alliance (NESWA). The focus for the study emerged from practitioners’ own experiences and observations of recent practice issues leading to the research question: What constitutes ‘effective’ supervision in statutory social work?

According to Social Work England, supervision should enable social workers to develop ‘personally and professionally through trust, honesty, accountability and empathy’. In addition, although Skills for Care lead a framework for what should be included for newly qualified social workers’ supervision, this is not mandatory and does not extend through the whole career of social work practice. In light of this, O’Donoghue and Tsui (2015) call for the advancing of ‘supervision scholarship and practice (p.628), yet relatively little research has been conducted in the UK to explore the experiences social work practitioners have of supervision (Wilkins et al. 2018).

Through the FPR programme, practitioners applied a pragmatic approach to how to explore social workers experiences of supervision (Muurinen and Satka, 2020). Focus groups were conducted with a total of thirteen social workers at different stages of their career (from student to service manager).

Findings suggest a flexible approach to supervision is needed to enable shifts in focus and delivery at different stages of the social work career. Early career social workers require more exploratory supervision, where reflection and theory-based decision-making is encouraged in a safe, contained space. Social workers further with more experience value solution-focused supervision focusing on assigned case work of increasing complexity. Social work managers valued a return to a more reflexive style to engage in critique in decision making. Overall, a shared trusting relationship was noted as important at all career levels reflecting the relevance of supervision in holding the confidence of the practitioner, sharing risk and power, to encourage resilience and retention in frontline professional practice.

This oral paper is framed within the context of transparency, shared decision-making and accountability between workers and leaders, in what is often a professional space hidden from wider scrutiny; whilst having the potential to shape the longevity and success of social workers professional careers. The active participation of professionals in this research informs current understanding of what frontline professionals need from the internal processes that actively scrutinise them, encouraging agency in a cornerstone of the social work experience and reigniting the power to shape decisions made in the process. In considering the recommendations, leadership teams have an opportunity to facilitate confidence and promote autonomy within the professional workforce, for the benefit of the people we serve.

NB. NESWA is a charitable body that oversees the social work teaching partnership in the North-east of England.