Lessons Learned for Supervisors Toni Sebastian Supervisor’s Academy June 22, 2010
Lessons Learned for Supervisors
Toni Sebastian
Supervisor’s Academy
June 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 Violence
Plan 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 AbuseAssessment should include effort to identify
use pattern Plan should be built around times of use
Mental HealthIs 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 beginningHiring, 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 Four
Supervisors 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 conductPunctualityAccountabilityDress
Returning phone calls Accessibility
Itinerary and current calendarsUpdated phone message
Establish Professional Standards and Supervisory Expectations
Workplace environmentCalm, 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 Five
Bias 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 ownWhat do you bring to the work?
Worker biasesStrengths 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