Expert and Participative Approaches in the Context of Supervision

Adela Michkova

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The article focuses on the concepts of expert and participative approaches in social work supervision. The question is how these concepts, that is, categories of expertise and ability to participate, are reflected in the supervision of social work in a historical context and how they are currently conceived. THEORETICAL BASIS: The text is based on the historicalro ots of supervision in social work and reflects the current situation in this area. Inspirational perspectives are drawn from other fields in which the context of supervision is somewhat different. METHODS: The paper is conceived as a cross-section paper mapping the development of the issue. The intentional selection of resources was carried out using systematic reviews. OUTCOMES: Social work as well as supervision were based on expert approaches. The originally dominant administrative function, for which the expert approach is crucial, has gradually lost its importance. The influence of participative approaches can be observed in supervision at all levels. Previously perceived approaches can be seen as dynamically changing characteristics of the supervisory style, which can be applied simultaneously in the current concept of supervision. SOCIAL WORK IMPLICATIONS: Supervised practice is a prevailing standard in social work. Reflection and discussion of different perspectives, through which expert and participatory approaches can be viewed in the context of supervision, can promote the effective use of supervision.

Keywords
expert approach, supervisory function, participative approach, supervisory styles

Issue:

5/2019

p. 5 – 14