Reflective Supervision: A Best Practice Guide launched to international crowd of social workers in Edinburgh

The Social Workers Union (SWU) and Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) were pleased to welcome a full house of social work colleagues to the launch event on June 17^th.

SWU General Secretary John McGowan, who was one of the lead authors of the guide, provided a warm welcome to the crowd at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh.  John remarked:

“I am pleased to launch this Reflective Supervision Guide alongside Professor Jermain Ravalier and his brilliant research team. Reflective supervision is so necessary and effective. It gives social workers a space in which they can think analytically and critically about their work, gain insight and improve confidence, and be supported to improve their practice. I hope this new resource will help social workers develop and reflect on their practice and help supervisors ensure that supervision is not just a tick box exercise.”

Scottish Government Chief Social Work Advisor Iona Colvin began her keynote speech by acknowledging the current social work workforce crisis, and emphasised the important role that reflective supervision has in supporting social workers to do constructive and good work. She also highlighted the importance of trauma informed practice. Iona said:

“I really welcome this best practice guide, and it’s a great step forwards for us to have something to point social workers and managers at. I think the next thing we really need to do is to be working with employers to get them onboard and understand how you bring in good quality social workers, how you support newly qualified social workers, how you support social workers to stay in the workforce – so that they can practice the best that they can for the people they work with. We have the guidance; we now need to make sure it’s adopted, that it’s used, and that we will be committed to in Scotland.”

Professor Jermaine Ravalier, Head of School of Health and Social Care Professions at Buckinghamshire New University introduced himself and colleagues from the research team on this two-year project. Jermaine said:

“When reflective supervision is done properly it improves social workers’ practice, improves organisations by reducing turnover, and improves things for service users. This guide is an opportunity to support social workers and the people who manage them because, ultimately, good reflective supervision means better outcomes for the people they work with.

“I’ve been enough lucky to work with a fantastic and really big team on this project. We’ve done surveys, reviewed what the literature says about reflective supervision, and conducted lots of individual interviews with social workers as well as team-led focus groups. 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. This new guide outlines a step-by-step approach to supervision, maintaining positivity, development, and learning.”

Professor Paula McFadden, a researcher and educator in Social Work at Ulster University, said:

“I’ve been working with Jermain for 5 or so years on different works, so thanks to Jermaine and the team for involving me with this. There’s a supervision policy just recently launched by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland. We’re all talking about the same structures that need to be reenforced and supported, so social workers can be supported to deliver the service to those who are most vulnerable. Other work includes safe staffing in social work in Northern Ireland and I know that’s part of the development in Scotland as well. It’s so important that we get all of the ingredients right – that we keep these conversations going, that we make these plans, and follow them through.”

Caroline Bald, a lecturer at the University of Essex, said:

“One of the things I’ve noticed specifically in social work is we’re not necessarily that good at looking at ourselves. Either we’re selfless and we’re thinking of the people we work with, or we don’t want to actually focus on some of the things we struggle with. Working with students day in and day out, they talk to me about the value of supervision but they keep telling me that it’s the first thing that goes when things get busy. The commitment to supervision, and doing it reflectively and positively, is a middle management responsibility. It needs to be in everyone’s diary, and not just telling me what you’re doing with your day. It’s about team effort, and that takes leadership – it’s about everyone being leaders and that includes our students as well.”

Another highlight of the event was the “Importance of Positive Working Conditions in Social Work” panel discussion followed by a Question & Answer session, hosted by BASW Communications and External Relations Officer Jonny Adamson. The panel included Chair of the Cross-Party Group on Social Work at the Scottish Parliament Fulton MacGregor MSP, BASW CEO Dr Ruth Allen, SASW National Director Alison Bavidge, and SWU Chair Dave Callow. Below are some quotes from the engaging panel discussion.

Ruth first addressed the importance of reflective supervision, saying:

“We heard earlier [at this event] a great presentation about why this practice important guide is so important – including from the Chief Social Work Advisor of Scotland. It’s important because… we don’t know what we’ve learned until we have a chance to reflect on the work because it’s often emotional, it’s complex, it’s inter-relational, it’s challenging and rewarding in so many ways.

“Reflective supervision is about space. Social workers need that space with somebody who has the skill to help you understand what the experience has been like – and the appreciative enquiry approach in the guidance is important for this reason – what you might do differently and have learned.”

Alison remarked that:

In Scotland, we know that 25% of social workers leave within the first 6 years of practice. We know this and we understand why. What I think we’re trying to do with this reflective supervision best practice guide is identify the time that is needed, as mentioned earlier. The appreciative enquiry approach is a solution focused approach, where social workers can feel like they have a plan and that things are moving forward.”

Fulton said:

“I think reflective supervision is absolutely crucial, and it’s got to work in two strands. The difficult and complex stuff – and it’s really important that those who are supervising are trauma informed. Also, I think it’s important to deal with simple things such as taking a break for mindfulness and exercise and making sure these can be worked into social workers’ days.”

Regarding challenges in the profession, all four panellists identified recruitment and retention as major issues. Ruth also spoke to the importance of valuing the supervisors as well as supervision. She said:

“Across the UK we’re losing longstanding experienced people from the workforce who have that supervisory wisdom. We need to value our experienced workforce – who we need to support new social workers, and who are leaving the profession too early – by having clear career pathways and structures.”

 Dave said:

“I think recruitment and retention are at the heart of a lot of what we’re seeing. It’s the working conditions, and there’s a lot of work between BASW and SWU to try and address that. People don’t tend to feel valued in their job and I think also, as a social worker, you’re all things to all people. Trying to balance that with their own wellbeing, as well as a generation of people who have lived through austerity – which has never really left us – as well as the cost-of-living crisis. It’s hugely stressful.”

Questions put to the panel included:

• Approaches to widespread burnout caused by high and complex caseloads
• Employers’ perception of adequate supervision vs. the reality of supervision being delayed or used as a case audit
• Professional codes of practice across the four nations including reflective supervision as an expectation to ensure social work practice is safe
• Enabling experienced practitioners to stay on the front line as a career path

After the discussion, social worker and SWU Executive Committee member Chrissie Beatty commented:

“This Reflective Supervision Guide will be a pivotal tool in increasing the wellbeing of social workers and deepening the understanding of our practice, especially with the ongoing challenges around retention and high levels of burnout.

“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. Reflective Supervision is a cornerstone of Social Work and I was grateful to have the opportunity to discuss this in the latest episode of Let’s Talk Social Work.”

You can listen to Prof Jermaine Ravalier, Chrissie Beatty, and John McGowan have an in-depth discussion about reflective supervision with Andy McClenaghan in the BASW Let’s Talk Social Work podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Acast.