Step into Leadership

Supervision

Supervision is a process that involves a manager meeting regularly and interacting with worker(s) to review their work. It is carried out as required by legislation, regulation, guidance, standards, inspection requirements and requirements of the provision and the service. The purpose is to monitor tasks and workload, solve problems, support workers in dealing with complex situations and moral and ethical dilemmas and to promote staff development (National Occupational Standards).

Supervision aims to provide accountability for both the supervisor and supervisee exploring practice and performance. It also enhances and provides additional evidence for annual performance management and review. Supervision has a particular focus on developing the supervisee in a way that that is centred on achieving better outcomes for people who use services and their carers.

Here you can explore four models of supervision and find practical guidance to help you decide how the models can work in your own practice, highlighting the main benefits, key considerations and good practice. It is important to note that the guidance provided is flexible and should be adapted to the structure and needs of your organisation.

Supervision Resources

• Supervision presentationThis 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.
• What is Supervision? This document describes an approach to supervision and the benefits it offers. Introducing the four different models of supervision here you'll find details of what supervision should cover and a typical process common to all. We also discuss why supervision is important in social services and highlight responsibilities within the SSSC Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers and National Occupational Standards. You will also find links to other learning activities that can support and enhance the supervision experience.
• One-to-one SupervisionOne-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 Web Resources

• Newly qualified social workers, supervision and child protection An outline from Iriss which explores how newly qualified social workers can be supported in their first year, with a focus on effective supervision and preparation for child protection practice.
• Outcomes 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.
• Information and resources from IRISS on achieving effective supervision.
• Effective supervision in social work and social care Research briefing from SCIE which provides an overview of the evidence concerning the value of supervision in supporting the practice of social care and social work.
• SCIE Effective Supervision in a Variety of SettingsLinks to a range of resources on the context and foundations of effective supervision in practice.
• The Role of Social Work Professional Supervision in Conditions of UncertaintyJournal article on following a number of serious case reviews.
• British Association of Social Work A British Association of Social Work research report on supervision and coaching, with particular reference to supervision practice in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Leadership stories: developing effective supervision The resource captures the leadership stories of three organisations and how they worked with Iriss and SSSC to improve supervision within their organisations. It provides detail of the processes and resources which the organisations used to support their developments.
• Allied Health Professions support and supervision A learning site for Allied Health Professions offering practical resources and short videos which focus on support and supervision.