Supervision Framework: Decision making and interventions

This aspect of supervision provides the opportunity to focus on the challenges faced by social workers in carrying out their work. It includes reflection on what work has been done, plans for future interventions and actions, and discussions on improvements in practice.

There should be a focus on protecting the public and delivering effective services, with time spent reflecting on the relationships that have been formed with children, adults and families, and the mental and phsyical health of the social worker. Barriers to effective working on particular cases, including levels of stress experienced by the social worker, should be identified and addressed.

The supervisor should be an experienced and registered social worker, usually with expertise in the same area of practice, and should encourage shared professional decision making.

Relevant Inform guides:

Guide to compassion fatigue and secondary trauma in human services

Guide to developing social workers’ emotional resilience

Guide to analytic and intuitive reasoning 

Guide to effective supervision: What is it and how can supervisors ensure they provide it?

Guide to managing practice from a critically reflective position

Guide to managing stress – a manager’s guide

Guide to observing contact

Guide to promoting reflection in practice: The role of the practice educator

Guide to working in fear – how to work and practise when you feel frightened

Guide to working with emotion: A practice educator perspective

Line manager briefing on bullying and harassment

Line manager briefing on stress

Quiz: How emotionally resilient are you?