The Challenges of Social Work Supervision in the West Rand Region, Gauteng
Date
2013-10-10
Authors
Rankudu, Ikgopoleng Gladys
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Abstract
Supervision in the social work profession is a priority in maintaining consistent and high
quality service delivery. There is a need for effective supervision within the social work
profession in order to improve quality social work services offered to service users. It is
therefore important to get a sense of how social workers and social work supervisors
experience, understand and perceive supervision in DSD, West Rand Region.
In light of the above, the study thus intends to explore the perceptions of existing supervision
arrangements in the DSD, West Rand Region, in order to assess if it needs
adjustments/improvements or totally develop new informed interventions strategies for the
benefit of the social work practitioners, DSD and service users.
This exploratory study will help us to understand the nature of supervision, what effect does
manager supervision of professional social work practitioners have on social services
provision, and to make recommendations regarding the situation in order to improve the
service rendering.
The study takes a qualitative approach. A questionnaire consisting of qualitative questions
was designed.
Although there are some positives, the main findings of the study reveal that there is no
supervision in the Department of Social Development (DSD) instead professional approach
is being replaced by personal relationships. The relationships are maintained by reciprocity
and consensus; and social work supervisors go through some difficult experiences when
they move from the position of social worker to that of a supervisor. This requires support
from their superiors which, according to the study, is currently lacking. This calls for DSD to
urgently put professional systems in place.
Description
MM (P&DM) thesis
Keywords
Social work, Supervision of staff