Towards an indigenized external supervision approach in China

Abstract

External supervision is used in social work organizations to separate educational supervision from line supervision. It is educational and developmental, as the emphasis is on long-term professional growth of social worker. Social work organizations of Shenzhen, a city in South China adopt dual-supervision model at their establishment phase. Social workers are provided with supervision from external supervisors and internal line managers. Experienced supervisors are employed from adjacent city, Hong Kong (a special administrative region, located immediately south of Shenzhen) on a part-time basis to provide staff training and clinical supervision. A study conducted in Shenzhen is to explore the characteristics of this dual supervision approach. Five broad themes were identified across the interview data. They were: (1) roles; (2) education; (3) reflection and integration; (4) developmental orientation and (5) context and barriers. Four areas of concern namely educational, developmental, reflective and contextual that are particularly essential and relevant for the purpose of training the social workers. Social work supervision approach in Shenzhen is working towards a culturally and contextually adapted practice model. The findings reconfirm the significance of educative and supportive functions in social work supervision. Particularly the beginning social work practitioners have to build their professional confidence and resilience through supervision process.