Publications from ODSW Social Work Supervsion | Page 57

Workshop 3: PPIS Coordinated Multi-Pronged Supervision Programme: Towards An Evidence Based Approach’ PPIS Supervision Infrastructure Survey A survey was therefore conducted in PPIS, which focused on how social workers defined themselves as professionals. The survey found that a significant number of case workers lacked training and experience and found that they had inadequate clinical supervision by trained staff. They also expressed a need for greater administrative support and found that the more senior staff often had nowhere to go for support and guidance when they required it. Furthermore, practice standards, key positions, and values were not harmonized across the different centres. From this survey, Ms Mosli decided to look into supervision and put structure into the framework for supervision. She therefore developed the idea of having peer supervision, individual supervision, group supervision, in house training, supervision of supervisors, and professional counseling of professional development. I. Peer supervision Ms Mosli expressed that she found that supervisors and supervisees are often stumped on similar issues and this could be due to the isomorphic and parallel processes that occur between them. As such, it is paramount that these issues are drawn out and brought to the supervisor’s attention. She also noted a shift in the attitude towards live supervision. She recounted that few people had wanted live supervision in the past. However, as supervision has become more and more acculturated, there has been an upward shift in the demand for live supervision. II. Individual supervision Individual supervision is as most social workers are familiar with, whereby the supervisor will meet with the supervisee in individual supervision sessions. III. Group supervision In group supervision sessions, there may be a few supervisees, from one area of work or from different areas of work, and one supervisor coming together for supervision sessions. The advantage of this approach is that workers are able to share their knowledge from their different areas of work. IV. In house training In house training, as Ms Mosli pointed out, was what participants were currently going through – a seminar on supervision. V. Supervision of the supervisor In the supervision of the supervisor, the supervisor will meet with his/her own supervisor so as to discuss issues related to supervision. Ms Mosli expressed that in these sessions, the need for supervision and support for the supervisor often comes up. Ms Mosli opined that this is because senior workers often do not receive enough support; and the more senior they are, the less people they can turn to for help, support and supervision. VI. Professional counseling Ms Mosli expressed that PPIS had made professional counselling a requirement in the early days. She expressed that this was introduced so that supervisors could refer their supervisees for professional counseling for further support should any issues arise during 55