Clinical Social Work Supervision

Does the word ‘supervision’ fill you with a sense of dread?

Does it feel like your supervisor goes through a list of your cases and picks holes in your practice? Do leave supervision feeling berated for not meeting impossible deadlines and ignored when you have raised concerns about work place issues stopping you from doing your job? Do you feel your workplace is only interested in turning over clients, paperwork and has forgotten the real meaning of Social Work? Are you worrying about work all weekend? Are your clients ok? Did you fill in that case note?

Social Work and Clinical Supervision isn’t meant to be be this way. Supervision is mean to be a safe place where Social Workers can share their cases, receive constructive feedback, learn and grow as a practitioner. It’s a space where it’s ok to make a mistake, learn from it and become a better practitioner.

My passion is working with you to rebuild your confidence, identify learning your learnings needs and work collaboratively with you to help you grow as a social worker.

I provide clinical supervision to social workers, accredited mental health social workers, human services workers, case managers, youth workers and NDIS workers to:

• Develop your professional skills

• Maintain your AASW CPD requirements

• Provide a safe space to debrief, reflect and learn

• Provide a safe place to work through professional and work place issues

• Be a sounding board for professional boundaries and ethical decision-making

• Help you manage stress, burnout and improve your general wellbeing

• Help you develop your AASW CPD plan,

• Identify professional development opportunities

• Unpack and resolve bullying, workplace and line management issues

• Provide a safe place to explore ethical dilemmas, mistakes and client complaints

• Help you prepare for AASW Credentials

AMHSW Accreditation Preparation

Social Workers with mental health accreditation are in high demand and it’s almost impossible to work in mental health sector without it. Have you looked at the requirements for the AMHSW credential and felt completely overwhelmed? Where you do start? How do you even begin to answer all those selection criteria? Did you swear you’d never do another exam after graduating and your heart sank when you saw the exam component?

The good news years for most Social Workers who have worked in mental health or mental health related areas mental health accreditation is very achievable. Whether you are starting from scratch or you’ve begun the process I will walk with you step by step on your journey to become and AMHSW.

I follow a 4 phase process which includes:

1. Assessment Phase - we work together to get an idea of where you are up, if you meet or are close to meeting the requirements and identify your learning needs.

2. Planning Phase - we develop a learning and development plan to ensure you meeting the CPD requirements.

3. Application Support - we work together to to keep you on track with completing the application and selection criteria. While it’s important that your application is your own work I will assist you with planning your time and support you through the process,

4. Exam Preparation - I will work with you to build your confidence around completing bio-psychosocial assessments and treatment planning so the exam feels manageable and achievable. We will go through exam and self care strategies to help with those exam day nerves.

Ethical Dilemmas & Mistakes

Social Work is often referred to as a calling and for many Social Workers their career is deeply meaningful and rewarding. Even with our best intentions we are human and sometimes we make mistakes, find it hard to establish boundaries with a distressed clients or find ourselves having to make an impossible decision. Having investigated complaints in government and the not for profit sector and having worked as an Ethics Case Reviewer for the AASW it’s my opinion that many complaints could have been avoided with Social Work Supervision. A Social Worker Supervisor can provide a non judgemental, safe space to work through a difficult situation, an ethical dilemma, a practice issue or help you put in boundaries with challenging clients or work places.

Wellbeing and Burnout Prevention

Having worked in some high profile positions with significant occupational trauma I am very passionate about working with Social Workers to support their Wellbeing, engage in burnout prevention, personal and professional development. I hold a Master of Applied Positive Psychology (Wellness Science) and have worked a staff and family counsellor for Defence with a focus on individual and family wellness. I am passionate about working with Social Workers at all stage of their career to support their wellbeing, mental health and career longevity.

Skill Development

Are you a new or recent grad? Are you feeling there is a gap in your Social Work practice? Have you had a bad experience with your supervisor or manager who had told you are lacking skills? I have been practicing for over 20 yeas and have supervised students, new grads and experienced Social Workers. I can identify gaps in your practice, develop a learning plan and take you through social work core skills including psychosocial assessments, risk assessments, screening tools and counselling skills.