Social workers need for supervision: empirical justification and modeling
Review
The method of supervision is grounded with the experiential learning and developing competence of reflection. Supervision could be characterized in one essential feature which is relevant to social work practice. The implementation of supervision in order to develop the professional competencies of social workers is particularly new in Lithuania.
The aim of the study is to identify the need of the development social workers professional competencies considering the complexity of their professional situation. According this study, there is prepared the supervision implementation model. The study questions are: 1) With which internal (peculiarities, the lack of competencies, stress, the conflicts between professional and personal identity) and external (the working conditions, the professional relationships with colleagues and managers, the power manifestation conflicts) obstacles social workers face in the different fields of social work? 2) What resources of professional competencies (the ways of the support) do the social workers recognize? 3) What needs are for development of the professional competencies are highlighted by social workers? 4) How do the social workers react to the changes in the professional situations and how do they adapt their professional behavior and relationship with colleagues and clients in the process of the decision making? 5) What possibilities for development of the professional competencies the social workers identify in regarding with the needs for support? To implement the aim of the study the quantitative research was conducted. In the study social workers from different social work fields were participating.
The research findings revealed the social workers professional experience, complexity of the social workers professional situation and demand for the consultation of professional relationships. The findings and insights about the possibilities and directions of the supervision implementation in the social work practice form presumptions to systemize the findings and adapt the supervision model of Munster Academy in Lithuania. The supervision model of Munster Academy consists of four elements – personal role, professional role, organization and client – dynamics of interaction in the organizational, professional, relationships.