A Grounded Understanding of Challenges and Responses of Social Work Supervisors with Managerial and Clinical Roles

Abstract

The study seeks to understand the challenges and responses of social work supervisors with dual roles as a clinical supervisor and manager. Specifically, it examines the `person? and the `process? of social work supervision in their clinical and managerial role. Utilising interpretive epistemology, this qualitative study adopts the constructivist grounded theory as a method for data collection and analysis. A total of 27 supervisors were interviewed, and it includes 13 clinical supervisory sessions between the supervisor-supervisee pair. The experience of challenges and responses of supervisors are related to supervisor, organisation and time factors. There is possible strain and strengths of having dual roles, with faith and spirituality being utilised in supervisory practice and organisational management. A PEACE process-in-context supervision model emerged from the findings, and practice implications on the supervisory relationship, social work profession and organisation were proposed. This study provides an insight into social work supervision, and builds on existing theories. The need to obtain multiple perspectives, such as those of social work supervisees and clients emerged as future research agenda, alongside the need to study settings beyond the community-based agencies.