Real Life of an MSW

Clinical supervision, like the therapeutic relationship itself, starts with rapport building, establishes the purpose for supervision, and determines when the relationship will be terminated. Supervision is the relationship between supervisor and supervisee in which the responsibility and accountability for the development of competence, demeanor, and ethical practice takes place. The supervisor is responsible for providing direction to the supervisee, who applies social work theory, standardized knowledge skills, competency, and applicable uses for carrying out their role in this collaborative process. It is the supervisor’s responsibility to ensure that the supervisee provides competent, appropriate, and ethical services to the client. The proposed purpose of supervision is to enhance the social worker’s professional skills, knowledge, and attitudes to achieve competency in providing quality care, aiding in professional growth, development, and improving outcomes. Clinical supervisors can and should use all the skills they have developed as clinicians in a supervisory context. For example, a supervisor could provide feedback on what an individual might have missed in an assessment or what information might be useful for treatment planning and next steps. How do you know if you’re receiving clinical supervision? You meet on a regular basis with your supervisor to discuss client issues such as assessment, diagnosis, treatment options, barriers to care, medication support, etc.

 Therapeutic Notes Things to remember about supervision:

• How they act with you is most likely how they act with clients.
• Supervision is a generic skill.
•  Supervision is a collaborative process.
  • Adjust to the learning style of the supervisee.
• Supervision is an evolving developmental process.

Standards for Supervision. Have a written agreement between the employer, supervisee, and supervisor, making clear the employing agency should grant permission for supervisor to provide supervision.