ISSN: 2222-6990
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Supervision is an important component of all areas of professional social work practice, particularly in high risk areas where clients are at risk of or are being harmed. Child protection practice, is recognized as a high-risk service area and therefore professional supervision is of particular importance in ensuring the provision of best practice child protection services to the children and families. The purpose of the study is to identify how respondents perceive supervision within a professional practice environment and how this understanding may then act to shape the expectations of what supervision should be in the future. This is an exploratory qualitative study, based on 15 in-depth interviews with present and past practicing workers in the statutory child protection system. The study respondents recognize supervision as an important activity in supporting professional practice in stress related risk practice environments and in facilitating professional learning and development in social work child protection practice. The study indicates supervision is an ethical professional activity that provides professional support for practitioners working in a complex, stressful and risk-based practice environment. The contribution of good supervision to best practice child protection services, which in turn to benefit the agencies, professional practitioners and clients, are widely recognized.
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