Publications from ODSW Social Work Supervsion | Seite 14

Day 1 Keynote 1: Features, Nature and Culture of Social Work Supervision

3

Prof. Tsui formed an acronym with the word ‘practice’ with the key aspects that
a social work supervisor has to juggle: Program, Research, Assessment,
Casework, Teamwork, Interaction, Community, Emotional Support

Differences Between Social Work and Business
There are several differences between social work and business that were raised by Prof.
Tsui. Firstly, in social work, those whom social workers work with are referred to as clients.
In business, they are referred to as customers. A customer is a service consumer and a bill
payer. However, clients often do not have bills to pay. As such, frontline social workers
have to be accountable to their supervisors and thereby establishing an indirect
accountability between the client and the service supplier (top management, supervisor
and frontline worker). Frontline social workers have to be monitored to ensure quality of
service and behaviours. This moves supervision beyond the clinical aspect, where
supervisors simply tell supervisees the “hows” of social work. Supervisors have to provide
supportive supervision (showing personal care and concern) to their supervisees to ensure
that social work does not become mere technical work. There is a professional
commitment (eg. values commitment) to the client.
The second difference is related to the first, it is in the different identities that the clients
have. For instance, a client in the social work context can be a client, patient, customer,
consumer, service user or partner. In contrast, a client in the business context is only but a
client.
Lastly, in social work there are multiple accountabilities that must be managed. In contrast,
there is only a single accountability that has to be managed in business. In social work, one
has to manage accountability in these areas: professional, political, administrative, financial
and personal.
Suggestions for Humanistic Practice
Prof. Tsui had several suggestions for a humanistic practice.
1.
The client is different from a customer and must be treated as such.
2.
Staff are not just employees but professionals.
3.
The manager should not be the only decision maker.
4.
Life experience, common sense and professional knowledge (not only
management knowledge) should be taken as important components of human
service technology.
5.
Our society and community (not market and sales outlets) should be the primary
environments of professional practice.
6.
Service effectiveness is always more important than managerial efficiency.
7.
Care and concern are more fundamental than case and contract in human
services.
8.
Social work involves professional care and personal concern. eg. escort clients
to the frontd oor of your organization when they leave
9.
Clients are human beings and have an identity and individuality. They are not
just a case or a file.
10.
The emphasis should be about the process and outcome.
11.
Social workers need to have ID, EQ, AQ and AhQ – a fictional Chinese character
– someone who is full of confidence in himself. This prevents self-doubt.
12.
Social worker must give more time and space to their clients.
13.
Social workers should provide choices instead of imposing standards.
12