The final report of the Social Work Taskforce called for a single recognised career path for social workers. Supervision is a key component of ensuring that social workers are able to develop their practice and manage their workloads. The report echoed previous calls from Lord Laming for improvements to the frequency and quality of supervision but many social workers still feel that it is poorly managed, infrequent and bureaucratic. Poor supervision can hinder adequate protection of the most vulnerable members of society. As well as protecting service users, implemented correctly, supervision can ensure that social workers are managing their workloads and stress in a healthy way. And finally, supervision can be used as a tool to coach and mentor newly qualified social workers and develop more experienced practitioners. With the introduction of new working standards, employers will be urged to carry out workplace “health checks”. A new standard covering workload management and supervision will then be rolled out in 2011. But, a question mark must remain on how cuts in social care budgets will impact on supervision practice.

This conference will explore many of the key areas around implementing and maintaining a consistent, well-delivered programme of supervision. The timetable for the new standards of supervision and what will be expected will be outlined. The role and responsibilities of employers will be explored in detail, with an emphasis on reviewing and updating current policies. Creating a strong supervision culture within an organisation is a keystone to delivering successful supervision and the elements involved will be described. The costs of supervision will be discussed – an important consideration as the squeeze on spending accelerates. Further aspects of supervision will be explored including how health checks should be introduced and how staff can be motivated using coaching and mentoring as part of the supervision toolkit. Finally, the control and regulation of supervision will be discussed.

Key themes

  • The timetable and implementation of new standards in supervision
  • The role and responsibilities of employers
  • Creating a strong supervision culture including coaching and mentoring
  • The cost of supervision Health checks as part of the supervisory process
  • Planning supervision

Speakers at the event

Chair: Mike Lauerman Independent consultant in children’s and adult’s social care; Board Member SCIE and Trustee of VOICE and of Caldecott Community
Bill McKitterick Children’s Services Advisor
Mark Rogers Chair, Employers Standards Working Group, Social Work Reform Board
Peter Gilbert Professor of Social Work and Spirituality, Staffordshire University and Author of ‘Leadership: Being effective and remaining human
Lisa Holmes Assistant Director, Centre for Child and Family Research, Department of Social Sciences, Loughborough University Graham Woodham Regional Liaison Manager, NQSW, Skills for Care

Ivan Gray Senior Lecturer in Practice Development, University of Bournemouth and co-author of ‘Effective Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care’

Dilys Jones Dilys Jones Associates Ltd and co-author of ‘An Introduction to Coaching for the Health and Social Care Sectors’ published by Pavilion

Who should attend

  • Directors of adult services
  • Directors of children’s services
  • Current supervisors of social work teams eg. team managers and supervisors
  • Senior frontline workers Interim supervisors and managers
  • Newly appointed supervisors
  • Practitioners in human resources, training and staff development
  • Consultants in training and development

Pricing

£ 255.00 + VAT for Public sector/educational/charity/NHS'/local gov/voluntary orgs
£ 295.00 + VAT for Central gov/private orgs
£ 195.00 + VAT for Unwaged/student/small vol orgs