(c) 1999, Kieran O'Donoghue PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM THAN THOSE SITTING IN THE CHAIRS

OPENING A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE SUPERVISION OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND THE SUPERVISION OF COUNSELLORS

(c) 1999, Kieran O'Donoghue PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

Outline

• Social Work Supervision- Evolution• Contextual Supervision• Imaginary Dialogue between

Kieran and Philip McConkey• References

(c) 1999, Kieran O'Donoghue PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

Social Work Supervision

• Is as old as social work itself. • Its development has been shaped

by two factors:• The first is the practice

environment• The second the process of social

work professionalisation

(c) 1999, Kieran O'Donoghue PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

Social Work Supervision continued• Origins are generally argued to be

administrative- Charity movements of late C19th

• Educational focus developed between 1910s to 1920s when social work education moved from industry to Universities.

(c) 1999, Kieran O'Donoghue PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

Social Work Supervision continued• The integration of psychoanalytic

theory supported the development of supervision’s educational focus

• The emphasis of psychoanalytic theory shifted supervisory focus from the work to the worker

(c) 1999, Kieran O'Donoghue PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

Social Work Supervision continued • From 1950’s to 1970’s indeterminable From 1950’s to 1970’s indeterminable

supervision -v- autonomous practice supervision -v- autonomous practice debate.debate.

• Since late 1970’s accountability has Since late 1970’s accountability has been a dominant theme in social work been a dominant theme in social work supervision literature together with supervision literature together with personal support.personal support.

• This theme corresponds with the rise This theme corresponds with the rise of the New Right, New Managerialism of the New Right, New Managerialism and the rediscovery of burnoutand the rediscovery of burnout

(c) 1999, Kieran O'Donoghue PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

Social Work Supervision continued • Recently social work has

gained new insights into the supervisory context

• Previously the context that social work supervision occurred in was constructed as that of the agency.

(c) 1999, Kieran O'Donoghue PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

(c) Kieran O'Donoghue, PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

Contextual Frameworkof Social Work

Supervision

Politicalcontext

ServiceContext

ProfessionalContext

PracticeContext

Agency SystemAgency System

Worker’s Worker’s system system

Client systemClient system

Supervisor’s Supervisor’s systemsystem

(c) 1999, Kieran O'Donoghue PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

Contextual Supervision• This contextual understanding of This contextual understanding of

social work supervision views social work supervision views supervision as:supervision as:

• Involving the dynamic interaction the Involving the dynamic interaction the client,worker, supervisor and agency client,worker, supervisor and agency systems at the intra/inter/personal systems at the intra/inter/personal and social levels.and social levels.

• The interaction of the 4 systems The interaction of the 4 systems occurs within the political, service, occurs within the political, service, professional and practice contexts.professional and practice contexts.

(c) 1999, Kieran O'Donoghue PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

Contextual Supervision continued• The contextual supervision The contextual supervision

approach provides a framework approach provides a framework through which the reflective through which the reflective conversation of supervision can conversation of supervision can examine, deconstruct and examine, deconstruct and reconstruct, client, supervisee, reconstruct, client, supervisee, supervisor and agency supervisor and agency narratives within the parties narratives within the parties social realitiessocial realities

(c) 1999, Kieran O'Donoghue PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

Imaginary Dialogue with Philip McConkeyKieran Philip

• Greater Greater socialisation socialisation required into required into professional social professional social work supervisionwork supervision

• Accreditation of Accreditation of supervisors and supervisors and training providers training providers

• Further research Further research needed in theneeded in the

• Culture of Culture of supervision supervision requiredrequired

• Comprehensive Comprehensive training training

• Careful attention to Careful attention to appointment of appointment of supervisors supervisors

• Climate for Climate for research and research and writingwriting

(c) 1999, Kieran O'Donoghue PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

Kieran and Philip• Actual Practice, Actual Practice,

Supervision and Supervision and client outcomes, client outcomes, Supervision Supervision frameworks, frameworks, Creditability of Creditability of supervisors and supervisors and supervisory supervisory training.training.

• Need to support Need to support kaupapa Maori kaupapa Maori supervision andsupervision and

• Expansion of Expansion of group group supervisionsupervision

• Greater attention Greater attention to cross-cultural to cross-cultural supervisionsupervision

• National forum National forum for discussion for discussion and supervisory and supervisory developmentdevelopment

(c) 1999, Kieran O'Donoghue PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

Kieran and Philip • to develop to develop

supervision supervision approaches that approaches that address the Treaty address the Treaty of Waitangi and of Waitangi and our bicultural our bicultural setting.setting.

• Supervision is the Supervision is the social workers social workers most essential most essential professional professional relationshiprelationship

• Supervision has Supervision has a unique and a unique and critical place to critical place to take in the take in the helping helping professionsprofessions

(c) 1999, Kieran O'Donoghue PO Box 5543, Frankton, Hamilton

References

• McConkey, P. (1999) The Training of Supervisors of Counsellors and Psychotherapists in the United Kingdom, Palmerston North, Author.

• O’Donoghue, K. (1998) Supervising Social Workers, Palmerston North, School of Social Policy and Social Work, Massey University.

• O’Donoghue, K. (1999) Professional Supervision Practice Under New Public Management: A Study of the Perspectives of Probation Officers and Service Managers in the Community Probation Service, Palmerston North, Massey University, MPHIL thesis.