SUPERVISION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL WORKERS
Keywords:
supervision, social work, professional developmentAbstract
Summary: Supervision is an integral part of social worker training and practice. Having gone through a turbulent historical past, both denied and accepted, It is now established as a fundamental part part of the work of many professions, especially those in the humanitarian field. This article presents the results of an online survey of 653 social service workers from all regions of Bulgaria. The survey was conducted using Google Forms from 23.07.2024 to 08.08.2024. A correlation analysis of the effect of supervision on professional development and individual topics discussed during supervision was conducted using SPSS 23 statistical software. The themes were extracted from a supervision content questionnaire by Crisp & Cooper (1998). This paper aims to examine supervision and the professional development of social workers and present and outline the significant themes discussed in supervision sessions that relate to supervisees' professional development. The study results indicated that topics such as linking theory to practice, developing practice skills, analyzing successes and failures, discussing performance in work, and structuring supervision sessions had the most significant impact on professional growth. All themes from Crisp and Cooper's questionnaire (Crisp & Cooper, 1998) had significant correlations with social workers' professional development, confirming the need for supervision and discussing these themes during supervision sessions. However, supervision must be a holistic process that includes support, motivation and structured discussions on various topics. Providing quality supervision invests in better social services and higher staff satisfaction and professionalism. The results are essential for supervisors and enhance their ability to support and conduct effective supervision aimed at the professional development of social workers. Social services must respond to the needs and ever-changing demands of the community. To achieve this goal, supervision must, among other functions, be focused on the continuous professional development of staff.
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