Towards the construction of social work supervision in Aotearoa New Zealand : a study of the perspectives of social work practitioners and supervisors : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Abstract

This thesis presents the construction of social work supervision from the perspectives of \nsocial work practitioners and supervisors. In particular, the research explored how social \nwork supervision was constructed, the influence of the Aotearoa New Zealand context \nupon its construction, and where and how social work supervision can most effectively \nbe improved. In order to provide a background for informed analysis and discussion of \nthe research findings, key themes within the international and Aoteaoroa New Zealand \nsupervision literature were discussed. \nThe thesis was a mixed methods study that was informed by a constructionist \nconceptual framework with regard to the framing and exploration of the research \nquestions. The methodological approach used was derived from pragmatism and \ninvolved a combination of survey research with qualitative individual interviews, with \nthe survey being used to recruit and purposefully select participants for the individual \ninterviews. \nThe key findings from the study were: a) social work supervision was \npredominantly constructed from a professional standpoint, with the social, \norganisational and interpersonal context influencing how supervision was produced in \nany setting at anytime; b) the Aotearoa New Zealand context influenced supervision \nthrough the discourses of biculturalism and indigenous development, with \nmulticulturalism being a secondary influence; and c) that improvements were needed in \nthe professional and organisational systems that support supervision as well as in the \npractice and provision of it. \nThe implications and recommendations arising from these findings focus on \nsocial work supervision theory and practice, cultural competence and the further \ndevelopment of professional supervision. From these implications it is suggested that \nthe future research and development agenda for social work supervision both \ninternationally and within Aotearoa New Zealand concerns theory-building, responding \nto the dynamics of culture and difference within supervision and the professionalisation \nof supervision. The recommendations related to the professionalisation of supervision \nconcern: formal education and training; the role of supervision within organisations and \ncontribution to organisational development; and the need for a stronger evidence-base \nregarding supervision’s contribution to client practice and social worker well-being and \ndevelopment.

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