Supervision

Finishing university and starting work as a social worker can be daunting. 

You may understand the interventions and theory but still find yourself questioning your methods, whether your documentation is good enough, how to manage risk, or where your responsibility begins and ends.

Supervision gives you a space to talk through the parts of the work that is overwhelming, confusing or leaves you with doubt without feeling a pressure to perform or meet an expectation.

I provide supervision for new graduate and early-career social workers who want support with:

• Building confidence in their professional judgement
• Talking through complex client situations
• Risk, boundaries and ethical concerns
• Case notes, reports and documentation
• Managing difficult conversations
• Working in mental health and therapeutic settings
• Managing the emotional impact of the work
• Developing their own way of practising as a social worker
• Preventing burnout and creating a sustainable career
• Starting a practice

My approach to supervision is supportive, honest and practical. There is space to reflect and debrief, but we will also work through what you can actually do next.

You do not need to come to supervision with a perfectly organised agenda. You can bring a client situation, a workplace issue, something you are second-guessing, or simply a feeling that you are overwhelmed and not sure where to begin.

I may also provide external supervision for social work students completing a placement where the organisation does not have a social worker available to provide professional supervision.

Placement supervision can include:

• Connecting social work theory to what is happening on placement
• Reflecting on client and workplace experiences
• Working through ethical issues and professional boundaries
• Developing confidence and professional identity
• Reviewing learning goals and placement progress
• Preparing for university liaison meetings and assessments
• Supporting the transition from student to social worker

External placement supervision must be arranged and approved by the student’s university and placement organisation before beginning.

Supervision is available online across Australia and in person in Alexandria, Sydney.