Driving ducks onto a perch: The experience of locally trained Shenzhen supervisor

Abstract

The importance of supervision for social work practice has been recognized by the Shenzhen government, which has invested great effort into developing the mentorship model for supervisor training. This pioneering effort has resulted in the emergence of young local supervisors. This paper reports findings of a qualitative study which used in-depth interviews to explore the experience of 14 locally trained supervisors in Shenzhen. The findings reveal participants' pathways to becoming a supervisor, their perceptions about the role and functions of a supervisor, and their struggles in becoming a competent supervisor. These narrative accounts reveal the dominant theme of ‘driving ducks onto a perch’, a metaphor used by one of the participants. These supervisors regard the experience as being too rushed for them to be ready and putting them right on the spot. The findings reveal that policies and practices for nurturing local supervision in Shenzhen are too positive and ambitious. The implications of this study and suggestions for social work development in China are discussed.

深圳市政府確認社會工作實務督導的重要性，並投入很多精力來開發導師模式以培訓督導者。此創舉產生了本地青年導師的出現。本文報告了一次採用深度訪談的質性研究中，14位深圳本地培訓的督導者的經驗。研究結果顯示參與者成為督導者的途徑、他們對督導者角色和功能的看法和他們成為一個稱職主管的奮鬥過程。這些敘述事例同時突顯參與者比喻為「趕鴨子上架」的主題。這些督導者的經驗令他們感到被催促做好準備和要他們即時就地開始工作。調查結果顯示，深圳市培育本地督導的政策和實踐操之過急和野心太大。最後本文討論了這項研究的含意和社會工作在中國發展的建議。