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Supervision

Supervision involves a manager and worker meeting regularly to talk about different aspects of their work. The purpose is to discuss workload, support workers wellbeing and to promote staff development. Supervision should provide accountability for both the manager and worker and have a particular focus on achieving better outcomes for people who use services and their carers.

In these short animations you will hear an overview of what supervision is and how important it is to feature wellbeing in supervision conversations.

What is supervision?

Wellbeing in supervision

In each of these videos we see colleagues from different areas of social services sharing how they do supervision and what’s important for them and their teams.

Supervision in Justice Services

Supervision in Older People’s Services

Supervision in Social Care

SSSC Supervision Learning Resource

This Supervision learning resource promotes good practice in supervision across social work and social services in Scotland. It draws on examples of good practice and includes resources and templates to support the development of supervision.

1. Introduction
2. Why do supervision?
3. What is supervision?
4. Supervision contracts
5. Different approaches
6. Different types of one-to-one
7. Group supervision
8. Difficult conversations
9. Making the transition
10. Evaluating and reviewing
11. References
12. Examples and templates

What is Supervision?

This document describes an approach to supervision and the benefits it offers. It discusses why supervision is important in social services and highlights responsibilities within the SSSC Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers and National Occupational Standards .

View pdf

Types of Supervision

One to One Supervision

One-to-one supervision is widely used and the supervisor is usually the supervisee’s line manager.

Group Supervision

Group supervision is not as widely used and can often turn into a team meeting. Group supervision is led by a facilitator in a prearranged process and should complement one-to-one supervision.

Shared Supervision

Shared supervision is a form of one-to-one supervision that allows teams to share responsibility for supervising individuals.

Professional Supervision

Professional supervision is for professionally qualified workers in social services.

Supervision presentation

This resource is a presentation which offers a framework to help you facilitate a discussion around effective supervision. An introduction to the presentation provides more information about the different ways in which the resource can support your practice.

View presentation

Supervision Web Resources

IRISS Supervision resources

A range of supervision resources from IRISS to support effective supervision in a range of social services.

Outcome focused supervision and reflective practice

A resource from Social Care Wales, exploring outcome focused supervision and reflective practice. It includes videos and guidance on how to supervise and appraise well and how to facilitate an outcome focused reflective group session.

SCIE effective supervision in a variety of settings

Links to a range of resources on the context and foundations of effective supervision in practice.

Allied Health Professionals support and supervision

A learning site for Allied Health Professions offering practical resources and short videos which focus on support and supervision.

What Others Say

Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

Examples from Practice

A group model for student social work supervision at Cornerstone

SMART supervision and the Continuous Learning Framework at Aberdeen City Council

Supervision quick links

SSSC Supervision Learning Resource What is Supervision? Types of supervision Supervision presentation Supervision Web Resources What Others Say Examples from Practice

"Regular, high quality, organised supervision is critical, as are routine opportunities for peer learning and discussion."

Morrison, T & Wonnacott, J (2010) Supervision: Now or Never. http://www.in-trac.co.uk/supervision-now-or-never/

"Supervision for staff involved in complex work can help them to reflect on their practice and to practice effectively in face of resource and time limitations."

Johnstone, J & Miller, M. (2010) Staff Support and Supervision For Outcomes Based Working. Jit Scotland.