​Working with students is fun, inspiring, meaningful, rewarding and some days are incredibly draining and challenging.
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Here at Social Work for You we believe all school wellbeing staff should have access to regular professional supervision to support them in their roles.
We get it! We have lived it, loved it and anguished over it.
We know some wellbeing staff want and need supervision, but don't get it. We've heard you say you want to advocate for yourselves but can't always find the words or the time to put forward a comprehensive request for your Leader or Principal of why you need a different type of professional support to the educators next to you. We want to help you!
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Our tips
Do some research - who else in your network is receiving external supervision? Chat to them about how this came about and what they see as the benefits.
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Clarify - what do you want to get out of supervision? What do you want it to look like? Are there areas of your practice you want help with?
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Enlist some supporters - do others in your school know the specifics how your role is different and requires a different skills and knowledge set to classroom teaching or behavior management roles. Build awareness by talking to your colleagues in different roles about what your day looks like, what you want to achieve in your wellbeing role and the hurdles you encounter.
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Make the request - think about the "right" time and approach to asking for this professional development support. Have some pointers ready, then just do it!
We've put together some key points below to assist you in advocating for yourself. Let us know if it helped you.
Why EAPs Aren’t a Substitute for Professional Supervision
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) provide fantastic short-term support from qualified professionals, helping staff manage personal or work-related challenges.
However, they are not designed to meet the ongoing, specialised needs of wellbeing staff in schools.
Professional supervision offers regular, structured opportunities to reflect on practice, navigate ethical challenges and build resilience in a demanding role. It focuses on professional growth, systemic issues and the unique complexities of supporting students and families.
While EAPs are a valuable resource, professional supervision is essential for maintaining effective and sustainable wellbeing practices in schools.
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Supervision
Components & Benefits
Possible Components of Social Work Supervision for School-based Wellbeing Staff:
Professional Development: Supervisors help staff develop their skills and knowledge through by linking theory to practice and providing feedback on application of skills. They support staff to identify further development areas, this ensures that wellbeing teams are equipped to address the diverse needs of students.
Case Consultation: Supervisors provide a space for staff to discuss complex cases, offering insights and strategies to better support students facing various challenges, such as behavioral issues, mental health concerns or family dynamics.
Emotional Support: Working in schools can be emotionally taxing. Supervision includes offering emotional support to staff, helping them process their experiences and prevent burnout.
Accountability and Compliance: Supervisors support wellbeing workers to understand and adhere to ethical standards, policies and legal requirements, fostering accountability in their practice.
Collaboration: Supervision promotes collaboration among school-based staff, encouraging a team and systems-based approach to student support. This includes liaising with teachers, leadership, and other professionals - internal and external - to create a holistic support system.
Evaluation: Supervisors can assist wellbeing leaders to assess the effectiveness of wellbeing interventions and programs within the school, using feedback and data to drive improvements. Supervisors can assist wellbeing staff to consider their own approach to evaluating their impact through use of quantitative and qualitative measures.
Cultural Competence: Supervisors guide staff in understanding and addressing the cultural, social and economic contexts of their students, ensuring that services are inclusive and responsive.
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Benefits of Supervision for School-Based Staff:
Improved Student Outcomes: With enhanced support and training, wellbeing workers and teams can provide more effective interventions, leading to better academic and social outcomes for students.
Staff Retention: Regular supervision helps staff feel valued and supported, leading to higher morale and job retention.
Professional Growth: Ongoing supervision fosters a culture of continuous improvement and life-long learning, encouraging staff to pursue further professional development opportunities.
Meets Professional-body Requirement: For regulated professions such as Psychologists and Social Workers supervision is a requirement of registration/accreditation and maintaining eligibility to practice.
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Overall, professional supervision for school-based staff is a vital service that enhances the capacity of school and education systems to meet the complex needs of their students while supporting the professional growth of their staff.