NASW-TX: Values Based Supervision: An Approach that Transforms the Supervisor and Supervisee

Course overview

We know that relationships are essential in social work practice; in fact, relationships are the medium through which supervision occurs. However, we often don't prioritize the kind of supervision that promotes meaningful relationships and helps achieve positive outcomes. Supervision, especially agency-based supervision, is often crisis oriented and task focused. We're proposing a supervision framework that counteracts the fast-paced environments in which children and family serving agencies often operate under. The Texas Permanency Outcomes Project's (TXPOP) supervision framework was developed for use in the field of child welfare but is easily adapted for use in any supervision setting. One of the strengths of this approach is that it is highly flexible. It can be used as a stand-alone approach, or integrated into existing models and approaches that might already exist in an agency or practice. The values that are the foundation of this framework are inclusion, shared power, respect, compassion, and humility. These values are defined, and examples are woven throughout the workshop to demonstrate how they fit into supervision practice. The TXPOP supervision model is relational, reflective, balanced, solution focused, and trauma informed. These concepts and practices are explored, and specific strategies and tools are shared relating to each one. A parallel exists between the experience of supervisees with clients and supervisees with the supervisor; this is known as the parallel process. When leadership and organizational practices are predictable, stable, and safe for example, when supervisors and leaders utilize the values, we encourage and they use this foundational model in their interactions with staff, this process transfers to staff who can then use those same skills and practices with children and families. This parallel process is explored throughout the workshop to illustrate how supervisors and leaders impact direct practice. Giving and receiving feedback, another central part of providing clinical supervision, is discussed, and specific skills-based recommendations are provided. Participants will have the opportunity to share their own supervision experiences and reflect on how those experiences have shaped their practice. This interactive workshop uses multiple case examples to demonstrate how the framework can be applied.