Towards the construction of social work supervision in Aotearoa New Zealand : a study of the perspectives of social work practitioners and supervisors : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Date
2010
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Massey University
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Abstract
This thesis presents the construction of social work supervision from the perspectives of
social work practitioners and supervisors. In particular, the research explored how social
work supervision was constructed, the influence of the Aotearoa New Zealand context
upon its construction, and where and how social work supervision can most effectively
be improved. In order to provide a background for informed analysis and discussion of
the research findings, key themes within the international and Aoteaoroa New Zealand
supervision literature were discussed.
The thesis was a mixed methods study that was informed by a constructionist
conceptual framework with regard to the framing and exploration of the research
questions. The methodological approach used was derived from pragmatism and
involved a combination of survey research with qualitative individual interviews, with
the survey being used to recruit and purposefully select participants for the individual
interviews.
The key findings from the study were: a) social work supervision was
predominantly constructed from a professional standpoint, with the social,
organisational and interpersonal context influencing how supervision was produced in
any setting at anytime; b) the Aotearoa New Zealand context influenced supervision
through the discourses of biculturalism and indigenous development, with
multiculturalism being a secondary influence; and c) that improvements were needed in
the professional and organisational systems that support supervision as well as in the
practice and provision of it.
The implications and recommendations arising from these findings focus on
social work supervision theory and practice, cultural competence and the further
development of professional supervision. From these implications it is suggested that
the future research and development agenda for social work supervision both
internationally and within Aotearoa New Zealand concerns theory-building, responding
to the dynamics of culture and difference within supervision and the professionalisation
of supervision. The recommendations related to the professionalisation of supervision
concern: formal education and training; the role of supervision within organisations and
contribution to organisational development; and the need for a stronger evidence-base
regarding supervision’s contribution to client practice and social worker well-being and
development.
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Social work supervision