Supportive Social Work Supervision as an Act of Care: A Conceptual Model

Abstract

Supportive supervision is an important but often over-looked practice in contemporary social work, often assisting in maintaining practitioner well-being. The following research explores how eleven social workers in Australia experience supportive supervision and its impact on their well-being and job satisfaction. The research used interpretative phenomenological analysis to reveal the complex and important role supportive supervision has for social workers, working within risk-adverse, managerialist settings. Participants revealed how supportive supervision allowed them to feel cared for and valued within their work environment. This was contrasted with their experience of the tokenistic supervision they received in many agencies leading to feelings of emotional unsafety in the workplace. Whilst social work is inherently an emotionally driven profession, this study revealed how supervisory practices that focus on risk and surveillance place supportive supervision as an afterthought. This research highlights the importance of supportive supervision in ‘caring for the carers’ in front line social work positions.