Contemporary Practices in Social Work Supervision : Time for New Paradigms?

This book is a timely review of scholarship in social work supervision; re-examining the state of knowledge, research and practice; and asking if it is time for a new paradigm for the field.

The contributors present a universal paradigm in social work around what we understand social work to be, not only through its practice of supervision but also what this contributes to the challenge of any dominant ideas or ideals about the supervision agenda in an increasingly globalised social work context. Capturing new developments from different regions of the world, the book shows how these can inform critical practice, professional development and well-being, and have a wider impact on accountability, effectiveness and work performance.

The book will be appreciated by people needing or using services, novice or learner social workers, and those responsible for training or educating in supervision knowledge and skills or preparing to take up this important role. With applications for both academic research and practitioner-based learning, this book will help to ensure the best quality and supportive practice within the workforce and community it serves.

This book was originally published as a special issue of the European Journal of Social Work.

Trish Hafford-Letchfield is Professor of Social Care at Middlesex University, London, UK, and Research Associate for Social Work at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She has authored, co-authored and edited more than 14 textbooks and 50 publications in areas such as leadership, management, sexuality, anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice, ethics and interprofessional practice and educational gerontology.

Lambert Engelbrecht is a Professor of Social Work at Stellenbosch University, Western Cape, South Africa. His postgraduate studies were all in the field of supervision and management of social workers and students in various contexts. In 2018, he was awarded the highest research rating ever for a full-time social work academic by the South Africa National Research Foundation.