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Overview

Standard 5: Supervision

Supervision

All social workers need to reflect critically on their practice through high quality, regular supervision. Supervision should be an integral part of social work practice. The standard sets out two main principles for both the frequency of supervision and the quality of supervision.

Frequency of supervision

Employers should ensure that they have a policy in place which governs supervision. You should make sure supervision takes place for: 

  • students on placement  
  • newly qualified social workers  
  • social workers at Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) level and above 

Quality of supervision

Employers should ensure that social work supervision: 

  • is included within your accountability framework 
  • promotes continuous learning and knowledge  
  • provides an opportunity for social workers to critically reflect their learning needs 

Supervision supports student social workers and qualified social workers to meet the regulator’s professional standards. There should be regular supervision learning and development for social work supervisors. Employers should assign responsibility for overseeing supervision and dealing with issues that arise. 

The standard expects that the frequency and quality of supervision is monitored. It should be carried out against clear expectations such as those in your accountability framework. You should provide professional supervision by a registered social worker for those social workers whose line manager is not a social worker. 

Read more about Employer standard 5 on the Local Government Association website.

Ensuring professional standards in supervision

Ofsted children’s social care inspections emphasise the importance of high-quality supervision. Inspections inquire into whether supervision is critically reflective, safe, and emotionally supportive, while also challenging. 

Ofsted also evaluates the extent to which supervision contributes to the personal and professional development of workers. Additionally, Ofsted expects that supervision sessions should be adequately recorded (see References).

Social Work England (see References) calls for reflective supervision used as a mechanism for evaluating practice. Also, that reflective supervision is seen as an opportunity for workers to address the emotional impact of their work on their own wellbeing.

Additional requirements relating to practice supervisors and educators are that if you are: 

  • a senior leader or principal social worker in adult care, you should ensure that supervisors comply with the post-qualifying Standards for Social Work Practice for Supervisors in adult social care. These standards describe in detail what practice supervisors are expected to do - also, the values they are expected to uphold, and how their supervisory practice should be conducted 
  • a senior leader or principal social worker in children and families social work, you should ensure that supervisors comply with the Post-qualifying Standard, Knowledge and Skills Statement for Child and Family Practice Supervisors 
  • an employer who provides placements for social work students, then you should also ensure that the practice educators who supervise them adhere to the Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS)

References

This is the list of research and evidence sources used to produce this section. Publicly available links are included. 

Bostock, L., Patrizo, L., Godfrey, T., & Forrester, D. (2019). What is the impact of supervision on direct practice with children and families? Children and Youth Services Review, 105, 104-428.  

British Association of Social Workers. (n.d.). Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS).

Department of Health and Social Care. (2018a). Post-qualifying Standard, Knowledge and Skills Statement for Child and Family Practice Supervisors.

Department of Health and Social Care. (2018b). Post-qualifying Standards for Social Work Practice Supervisors in Adult Social Care.

Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behaviour in work teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350-383.

Ofsted: Social Care  (2018). Supervision and effective social work practice (Stanley, 2018).

Research in Practice (n.d.). Supervisor development programme (adult social care) tools. 

Research in Practice (n.d.). Supervisor Development Programme.

SCIE. (2017). Effective supervision in a variety of settings Guide 50.

Skills for Care. (n.d.). Effective supervision: a practical guide for adult social care managers and supervision.

Social Work England. (2020). The vital role of social work supervision. 

Stanley, Y. (2019). Supervision and effective social work practice.

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The resources have been developed by Research in Practice in collaboration with DfE.
Published: 30 October 2024
Last updated: 30 October 2024