Practice Notes

Research & Evaluation

Practice Notes synthesizes current research and ideas into best practices for the front-line social worker.

Practice Notes

Practice Notes is developed in collaboration between CASCW affiliates and public child welfare practitioners. It is intended as a reference for practitioners, linking research with best practices. Practice Notes is produced once per semester.

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Current Issue - #22

Supervision: The Key to Strengthening Practice in Child Welfare

Supervisors play the pivotal role in assuring “Best Practices” for Child Welfare, at a time when “doing more with less” has moved the system into a crisis stage. At the same time, demands for accountability (as noted in SSIS*) and effectiveness (as measured in CFSR**) have sharpened the focus for Child Welfare practice. This is the context for this edition of Practice Notes.

Despite this difficult environment, it is reassuring to note that supervisors carry out their roles, as defined by Kadushin, with skill and commitment. The most striking finding from this review was the broad set of responsibilities assigned to the supervisor. Tasks ranged from mentoring, monitoring, introducing innovation, to translating the meaning of the most recent memo and mandate. Moreover, another assignment was most recently added to the list: speak truth to power by providing management with details on caseloads that expose the urgent needs of vulnerable children and families enmeshed in the Child Welfare system. In this way, supervisors are now asked to assume the role of change agent. In a critical essay on supervision, this comment was noted: “Instead of merely managing change, supervisors must lead change. . . ”—a tall order. We try to address the scope of this daunting challenge in the piece entitled, “Great Expectations.”

Perhaps the most challenging task for the supervisor is the management of time. Child Welfare, a highly regulated system, operates within a framework of “ticking clocks.” Meeting various deadlines for permanency, court appearances, and administrative tasks are the supervisor’s responsibility. We learned that personal styles have evolved to make this obligation manageable: emails, cell phones, faxes, and web searches all come into play.

The wide-ranging tasks of supervision are captured, somewhat, in our selection of issues for this edition of Practice Notes. A strong case can be made to support the several initiatives that are underway to strengthen supervision. We look forward to their recommendations.

*The Social Services Information System
**Children and Families Services Review