Moving Beyond the Administrative: Supervisors' Perspectives on Clinical Supervision in Child Welfare

Abstract

This study contributes to the emerging knowledge base of child welfare supervision. An exploratory study examined the beliefs, practices, and experiences of 51 child welfare supervisors in Ontario, Canada. Eight focus groups were held with supervisors from a range of settings cross the province. The study identified a number of interwoven factors at the organizational, supervisory, and practice level that affect the nature of supervision offered. Implications are drawn for child welfare practice, models of supervision which integrate administrative, clinical and educational features, organizational culture, and training new supervisors.

KEYWORDS:

• child welfare
• clinical supervision
• child welfare supervision
• power and authority

Notes

Acknowledgement: The research study reported in this article was supported by the Royal Bank Fellowship Program.