Lessons Learned for Supervisors

Toni SebastianSupervisor’s AcademyJune 22, 2010

Lesson One

Safety assessment and planning require close supervision to ensure that proper assessment of threats is made and that

plans adequately control for specific safety threats.

Conference and Review Proper assessment and identification of

dangers and threats

Assessment of whether or not a plan will control for threats and can be sustained

Development of effective plan

3

Conference and Review Safety plans are usually developed in

the first 72 hours of the case should be updated as new information is learned.

Emphasis should be placed as much on safety assessment as on planning.

4

Domestic Violence Determine facts of incident Focus on behavior (who did what,

where, injuries, were the children exposed)

Pattern, escalation History of domestic violence

Relationship between caregiverWho can be protective/protected?What will it take to protect?

5

Domestic ViolencePlan should include establishment of

safety for battered caregiver.Supports and advocacy should be

included as part of plan.Responsibility for safety cannot be

placed on battered caregiver

6

Planning: Considerations Substance Abuse

Assessment should include effort to identify use pattern

Plan should be built around times of use Mental Health

Is caregiver incapacitated by mental illness?If so, substitute caregiver is needed for

protection

7

Questions in Reviewing Safety Plans Who is monitoring plan and when? How long will plan be in place? When will plan be updated? Why is plan necessary?

Source documents, assessment Can plan be sustained?

Who is involved? What are their protective capacities?

8

Questions in Reviewing Safety Plans Does plan include dates on specific

tasks or actions?Measurable

Who will do what?Concrete, behavioral

How will you know if plan is not working?

9

Lesson Two

Excessive caseload size results in shortcuts to decision-making and

superficial case management. Managers and supervisors must identify solutions for excessive

caseload size.

Addressing Caseload Size Document Advise chain of command Ask for help Develop office strategies for coverage

Case Review and Supervision Cut corners strategically Standardize work Know what questions to ask on what

type of caseSafety PermanencyFilingPlacement

Lesson Three

Recognize that the work is public and subject to review, question, and critique.

It is the supervisor’s responsibility to build a culture of openness,

accountability, and transparency.

Working with Staff Begin at the beginning

Hiring, training, supervision, and mentoring What is a public agency? Do you represent yourself or the

agency? Access to our work

Open access with protection of confidentiality

Talking About and Explaining our Work Responsibility to our clients, our agency,

and the public Being able to answer questions about

the workAdopting a non-defensive position and

attitudeRemain open to feedback and a change in

direction

Supporting v. Defending Staff Know the difference Encourage Provide support

Internal support – unit, supervisor, peersPeer support – critical incident, secondary

trauma, cumulative traumaEmployee Assistance Program

Management of High Profile Cases Media Legislature Intense conflict Be proactive Communication to Chain

Know caseReview work

Lesson FourSupervisors determine the culture

of their unit through role modeling. This role modeling

includes professionalism, work ethic, collaboration with

community partners, interest in learning, and demonstration of

critical thinking.

Establish Professional Standards and Supervisory Expectations Staff conduct

PunctualityAccountabilityDress

Returning phone calls Accessibility

Itinerary and current calendarsUpdated phone message

Establish Professional Standards and Supervisory Expectations Workplace environment

Calm, organized, orderlyCases, files, documents

Work ProductComplete staff workWritten work: grammar, spelling, clear,

concise, factual

Establish Professional Standards and Supervisory Expectations Anger about customer service is the

source of the majority of constituent complaints. Quality customer service:

○ Establishes reliability ○ Establishes credibility○ Builds reputation

Establish Professional Standards and Supervisory Expectations Collaborating with collaterals,

community partners, and other child welfare partnersParticipating in staffingsIncluding appropriate collateralsNotificationAble to disagree without severing

relationships

Establish Professional Standards and Supervisory Expectations Values, Ethics Culture of learning

Unit meetingsDistribute and share information Research, literature

Lesson FiveBias influences decision-making

and the manner in which information is interpreted,

understood, and presented. Supervisors must adopt a clinical

approach to supervision.

Clinical Work in Child WelfareClinical (Def. Webster’s II):

1. Of, relating to, or connected with a clinic2. Of or relating to direct observation

and treatment of patients. 3. Highly objective and devoid of

emotion, analytical.

What is Bias?

An inclination or preference, either for or against, that interferes with impartial

judgment.

Know Biases Your own

What do you bring to the work? Worker biases

Strengths and areas of challenge Unit bias Office

Indicators of Bias Scanning environment for information

that supports own view Limited scope of information supporting

view or conclusion Providing excuses or explanations for

clients Emphasis on being right rather than

factual

Clinical Supervision: Working with Staff Newer staff v. senior staff

Taking experience for granted Standardizing supervision

Conferencing Establishing equity Discipline and personnel actions

Clinical Supervision: In Casework Case assignment Observe

Home visits, interaction with clientsCourtStaffings

Clinical Supervision: In Casewrok Case review

Decision pointsPlacement, filing, reunificationConflicts with providers, foster parents,

relatives Ask the critical questions that elicit fact

patterns including history

Clinical Supervision: In Casework Request, expect, and review source

materialsMedical records, assessments, police

reports Apply policy, law, best practice

Clinical Supervision: In Casework Allow for emotions and frustration, help

staff separate emotions from facts Recognize enmeshment and blurring of

professional boundaries Normalize discussions about bias in

supervision and at unit meetings