Reflective Supervision: A Best Practice Guide (2024)

A co-constructed guidebook on best reflective supervision for social workers

Reflective supervision is a critical component of social work practice and it also provides a support for social workers’ wellbeing. However, for the majority of social workers, supervision is just not happening or serving any relevant purpose beyond administration and case work counting.

The Social Workers Union (SWU) and Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) have co-develop this Reflective Supervision: A Best Practice Guide with social workers across the UK. Our research over the last few years has determined that effective reflective supervision should facilitate:

• Reflection on the work that social workers do with their service users
• Learning from social work theory and implementing ethical practice
• Co-constructing good practice initiatives through the process

This guide has been developed for social workers, by social workers, and demonstrates the steps which should (and can) be taken within a reflective supervision session. It contains best practice guidance for social workers receiving reflective supervision, and those facilitating the supervision session.