A Study of the Relationships Among Effective Supervision, Organizational Culture Promoting Evidence-Based Practice, and Worker Self-Efficacy in Public Child Welfare

Abstract

The professional literature has not documented the relationship between effective supervision, an organizational culture promoting evidence-based practice, and self-efficacy in child welfare practice. Secondary analysis of survey data from one public child welfare agency was conducted to examine the relationship between these constructs. Results suggest that for inexperienced workers, there is a difference in their self-efficacy based on the effectiveness of the supervision they receive. Respondents receiving effective supervision were more likely to perceive their organizational culture as promoting evidence-based practice. Further, there was a significant difference in levels of self-efficacy based on this perception of organizational culture. This exploratory study supports further research into these promising organizational strategies for performance and outcome improvement.

KEYWORDS:

• social work supervision
• organizational culture
• evidence-based practice
• self-efficacy
• child welfare