The Social Workers’ Union and Buckinghamshire New University launch new best practice guide
The Social Workers’ Union (SWU) and Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) have this week launched ‘Reflective Supervision: A Best Practice Guide’, a new workplace best practice document for social workers.
The publication, produced by SWU and Professor Jermaine Ravalier, Head of School for Health and Social Care Professions at BNU, was launched at the British Association of Social Workers’ (BASW) 2024 conference in Edinburgh on Monday 17 June to an audience of professionals from around the country.
The guide builds upon the collaborative research project entitled “A Rapid Review of Reflective Supervision in Social Work”, which was published in the British Journal of Social Work in December 2022. The project saw SWU and Professor Ravalier work with social workers across the country to collect research and surveys over a two year-period, with the results informing the guide.
Professor Ravalier said:
“I have been working with the Social Workers Union and British Association of Social Workers for coming up to eight years now, and across that time we’ve spoken to thousands of social workers. I recognise that social work is a really tough (but rewarding) vocation, and from the thousands of social workers we’ve spoken to it’s clear that good reflective supervision is needed.
“Reflective supervision in social work isn’t just about case management. It’s about critical learning and improvement. Good reflective supervision means better wellbeing for social workers, it means improved practice, it means better recruitment and retention, and ultimately it means better outcomes for those who social workers provide help and support to.
“This reflective supervision guide outlines a step-by-step approach to supervision, maintaining positivity, development, and learning. It’s therefore a really important piece of work for social workers, those providing supervision to social workers, and to improving the lives of the children, families, and others who are provided social work support.”
SWU Executive Committee member Chrissie Beatty commented:
“As a social worker, I have experienced both good, and not so good, reflective supervision. Having regular protected time, with firm ground rules in place, allows social workers to critically reflect on their practice and explore the ‘whys’ and ‘so whats’, as well as the impact on their own wellbeing.
“With the ongoing challenges around retention and high levels of burnout, this Reflective Supervision Guide will be a pivotal tool in increasing the wellbeing of social workers and deepening the understanding of our practice.”
SWU General Secretary John McGowan highlighted:
“We know that reflective supervision can work well to develop best practice but what we have found as part of this study and creating the guide is that the quality, quantity and purpose of supervision can differ extensively. Therefore, it is paramount that you proactively reflect on your practice to help you gain insight into and think analytically and critically about your work. Supervision is essential to schedule dedicated time for this purpose.”