Driving ducks onto a perch: the experience of locally trained Shenzhen supervisor

Abstract

The importance of supervision for social work practice has been recognized by the Shenzhen government, which has invested great effort into developing the mentorship model for supervisor training. This pioneering effort has resulted in the emergence of young local supervisors. This paper reports findings of a qualitative study which used in-depth interviews to explore the experience of 14 locally trained supervisors in Shenzhen. The findings reveal participants' pathways to becoming a supervisor, their perceptions about the role and functions of a supervisor, and their struggles in becoming a competent supervisor. These narrative accounts reveal the dominant theme of ‘driving ducks onto a perch’, a metaphor used by one of the participants. These supervisors regard the experience as being too rushed for them to be ready and putting them right on the spot. The findings reveal that policies and practices for nurturing local supervision in Shenzhen are too positive and ambitious. The implications of this study and suggestions for social work development in China are discussed.

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