New attention to the responsibilities of the supervisor as one who ensures quality services and facilitates worker retention has focused on training and professional development. To enhance the role of supervisor, the following resources include creating opportunities for achievement, personal growth, and career advancement. Also included are resources relating to supervisor self-care and well-being.
Leadership Academy for Supervisors
National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (2019)
Trains supervisors using six online modules that make up 21 hours of self-directed learning. There are two tracks: a personal learning plan and a change initiative project.
Minnesota Child Welfare: A Framework for Competent Child Welfare Practice (PDF - 638 KB)
University of Minnesota, Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (2018)
Provides a framework from Minnesota that discusses the use of management and supervision on page 14 and reviews competencies for quality supervisors in child welfare beginning on page 16.
Minority Professional Leadership Development Program
AdoptUSKids (2019)
Describes a 12-month fellowship for emerging minority leaders in child welfare working in direct service in the child welfare field. Minority children of color are overrepresented in the foster care system, so developing ethnically, culturally, and racially diverse leaders may allow the system to better respond to the needs of diverse communities.
Social Worker Self Care – The Overlooked Core Competency
Jackson (2014)
Social Work Today, 14(3)
Discusses self-care for social workers and links to a self-care toolkit that provides a collection of tools and resources for self-care. The resource provides a link to the book, Self-Care in Social Work: A Guide for Practitioners, Supervisors, and Administrators, to address the need for supervisors and administrators to practice self-care.
Supervising From a Trauma-Informed Perspective [Video]
University of Texas at Austin, Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing (2017)
Offers a training for supervisors on their role in providing a trauma-informed perspective. Participants in the training will learn how to create a culture that supports trauma-informed practice by and for staff.
Supervisor Learning Circles
Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Highlights a practice in Georgia called Learning Circles, a peer-to-peer learning system used to spark innovation, promote critical thinking, and improve casework and supervisory practice.
Trauma-Effective Leadership Certificate: Building Trauma-Informed Leaders and Resilient Organizations
University of Minnesota, School of Social Work Continuing Education
Presents a certificate program on how to create a trauma-informed workplace for leaders in child welfare. This is a 9-month program in which supervisors learn about new trauma-informed leadership techniques, their role in shaping organizational culture, and new skills to create a toolbox of trauma-informed leadership practices.
What is Reflective Supervision?
Multiplying Connections (2018)
Defines reflective supervision, which builds on the supervisor's use of thoughts, feelings, and values. Evidence shows that child welfare agencies with more relationship-based supervision and greater time devoted to continuing education, both elements of reflective supervision, have lower rates of turnover and greater success.