A practical model of supportive social work supervision in Portugal: between safety of the older people and personal self-care
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Social work supervision is a supportive process that influences professionals’ decisions and promotes personal and professional development. In this article, we reveal the importance of supportive social work supervision in a pandemic context (COVID-19) for social workers working in social facilities (residential homes and home care services) in the welfare system of Portugal. In terms of methodology, this social work practice model was performed amongst sixty professionals using an online platform, Zoom.
Qualitative data was collected in each session and analyzed in relation to professionals' queries, doubts, and reflections and on potential strategies. Practicing social workers consented to participate in not only in the supervision but also in the research process.
The results demonstrated the fragility of these social facilities in providing social care and demonstrate that social work supervision enabled professionals exude more resilience and express capabilities to face the unknown in the pandemic. Furthermore, there was a notable increase in the practitioners’ confidence in decision making in the management and provision of care and safety of the older people and their formal caregivers, and also, enabled professionals to develop skills to act in emergency situations, as well as be aware of the importance of self-care.
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Accepted 2023-12-05
Published 2024-01-01
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