Child welfare supervisors play a pivotal role in translating and fulfilling their agencies' missions and values. Effective supervision enhances staff performance and retention, and can lead to improved outcomes for children and families. The supervisor also plays an important role in reaching out and building relationships with the community. This section provides resources on many aspects of supervision, including clinical and administrative supervision, improving staff performance and retention through supervision, supervision and data management, supervisory development, supervision tools, and more.
- Clinical supervision
- Administrative supervision
- Improving worker performance through supervision
- Supervising for organizational change
- Working with the community
- Peer supervision
- Supervisory development/self-development
Best Practice Standards in Social Work Supervision (PDF - 209 KB)
National Association of Social Workers & Association of Social Work Boards (2013)
Provides standards that promotes uniformity and helps to ensure that all social workers are equipped with the necessary skills to deliver competent and ethical services to their clients.
Strengthening Child Welfare Supervision (PDF - 387 KB)
National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement (2007)
Describes key strategies child welfare agencies can use to support the role of supervisors in organizational improvement.
Supervising Child Protective Services Caseworkers
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children's Bureau
Salus, Marsha K.
This manual provides the foundation for effective supervisory practice in child protective services (CPS). It outlines the roles and responsibilities of the CPS supervisor and provides practice-oriented advice on how to effectively carry out supervisory responsibilities, with a focus on best practices and critical issues in supervisory practice.