Dual roles of social work supervisors: strain and strengths as managers and clinical supervisors

Abstract

The simultaneous performance of administration, education, and support is challenging for social work supervisors with dual roles as manager and clinical supervisor. This qualitative study examines the strains and strengths that arose as a result of fulfilling the dual role. Using constructivist grounded theory, a total of 27 supervisors were interviewed, followed by theoretical interview and group validation interview to further confirm the emerging data. The findings suggest that social work supervisors experience role strains, in their attempt to provide a ‘safe’ supervisory relationship and ensuring accountability, and developing expertise with different domains of social work practise. In managing the dual role challenges, supervisors utilized different role management strategies, and in the process, they experienced role balance and role ease. In light of these findings, the paper suggests for supervisors to direct social work supervision with a focus on client well-being and supervisees' development, guided by professional values and ethics.

兼有主管和临床督导双重角色的社会工作督导者面对要同时执行行政、教育和支援的挑战。是次质性研究探讨因履行双重角色而引起的困难和优势。是次研究引用建构主义扎根理论，访问了27位督导者，辅以理论性访问和分组验证访问去进一步核实产生的资料。结果显示，当社会工作督导者尝试提供「安全」的督导关系、确保问责性和发展不同范畴的社会工作实践专业技能时，他们会经历角色困难。面对双重角色的挑战，督导者会运用不同的角色管理策略，并在过程中体会角色平衡和角色缓解。根据研究结果，本文建议督导者在指导社会工作督导时，在专业价值和伦理指导下，聚焦于当事人的福祉和受督导者的发展之上。

Keywords::

• dual role
• social work supervisor
• managerialism
• role strain
• role balance
• clinical supervision
• administrative supervision
• manager
• clinical supervisor

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.