This book presents a model of supervision that is based on both contemporary theory and research, which is strongly contextualized to child and family social work. It draws directly from analysis of in-depth interviews with experienced and post graduate qualified supervisors and supervisees about ‘what works’ in supervision. These findings bring ‘news of difference’ in relation to social work supervision offering hope, inspiration and a contemporary model of supervisory practice.

This study is based upon a piece of qualitative research examining the traditional, formal supervision of social workers by team managers with regard to child protection work in Local Authority social services departments. It explores the supervisory process in practice and its value in terms of ensuring and facilitating effective and efficient practice in the child protection field. It illustrates that supervision is predominantly a managerially-oriented activity, rather than the required worker-centred activity through which the professional and personal needs of social workers can be met and practice quality maintained. The reasons for a managerial emphasis are explored, concluding that, within the present organisational structure and management philosophies of social services departments, this model of supervision is inadequate. Local authorities need to seriously consider professional and personal needs of workers, otherwise confident practice cannot be expected.

Provides the foundation for supervisory practice in Child Protective Services (CPS). It describes the roles & responsibilities of the CPS supervisor, & provides practice-oriented advice on how to carry out supervisory responsibilities. Designed for CPS supervisors & administrators, but it also may be helpful to child welfare agency staff who provide training for supervisory personnel & to schools of social work as they prepare new social workers for the child welfare field. Also includes a glossary of terms & a bibliography.

Supervisors have a pivotal position in the child welfare workforce: they recruit and retainthe best employees, move agencies to best practice frameworks, and create a sustaining positive organizational climate. Child welfare supervisors must lead a stressed workforce operating in a bureaucratic environment, and always with the knowledge that children's lives are at stake. They need and deserve a book oriented to the reality of their work. Child Welfare Supervision connects theory and practice to provide an overview of the most relevant and sound approaches to supervision. In thirteen illuminating chapters, Child Welfare Supervision translates generic principles of supervision and management and organizational theory to the specifics and reality of the child welfare practice environment. The result is a comprehensive, integrated resource for child welfare supervisors that gives them the tools and information to succeed in the fast-paced and intense world of child welfare. - Covers a wide range of must-have skills for supervisors including leadership, developing worker performance, managing the Child Welfare unit, working beyond the agency, managing performance, providing clinical supervision, and respecting diversity - Features case studies and scenarios that illustrate key points and competencies - Brings together the latest research and literature review with a pragmatic approach to child welfare supervision and case studies illustrate key concepts. -Each chapter concludes with reflection questions that can be assigned for a class or used in an agency to generate thoughtful discussion.

Developing an Empirically Based Practice Initiative documents practice techniques that were used during a three-year training/demonstration project for child welfare supervisors working in the frontlines of child protection services in the Southeastern United States. This unique book is a guide to combining research methodology with staff training to enhance the quality of evidence-based practice in the field. The book examines techniques that were used in training modules in four states, highlighting practice models and intervention outcomes from an evidence-based perspective. Developing an Empirically Based Practice Initiative includes details about the project from the federal perspective (The Children’s Bureau) and the operational implications at the Southern Regional Quality Improvement Center (SRQIC) level. The book examines the issues of providing technical research assistance to child welfare agencies and the complexities of cross-site evaluation with different political jurisdictions. Developing an Empirically Based Practice Initiative examines: The Children’s Bureau discretionary grant program the relationship between child welfare workers’ career plans and their abilities to accomplish core work tasks secondary traumatic stress (STS) in child protective services workers methods for monitoring and evaluating child welfare supervisors clinical decision-making as a tool for building effective supervision skills the use of outcome data for decision-making the development and implementation of the Tennessee project the use of “360-degree” evaluations to improve clinical skill development the Intervention Design and Development model Developing an Empirically Based Practice Initiative is an invaluable aid for social work practitioners, child welfare workers, case managers, and supervisors, and for social work academics and students.

Supervision is currently a "hot topic" in social work. The editors of this volume, both social work educators and researchers, believe that good supervision is fundamental to the development and maintenance of effective practice in social work. Supervision is seen as a key vehicle for continuing development of professional skills, the safeguarding of competent and ethical practice and oversight of the wellbeing of the practitioner. As a consequence the demand for trained and competent supervisors has increased and a perceived gap in availability can create a call for innovation and development in supervision. This book offers a collection of chapters which contribute new insights to the field. Authors from Australia and New Zealand, where supervision inquiry is strong, offer research-informed ideas and critical commentary with a dual focus on supervision of practitioners and students. Topics include external and interprofessional supervision, retention of practitioners, practitioner resilience and innovation in student supervision. This book will be of interest to supervisors of both practitioners and students and highly relevant to social work academics. This book was originally published as a special issue of Australian Social Work.