Download the presentations and view the recording from the webinar held on October 27, 2020.
Practice-based evidence and research has shown that structured, supportive and reflective supervision helps to improve worker retention and performance and results in higher quality services and support to children and families. When workers are provided the time and space to critically reflect on their work through the guidance of a trained supervisor, the quality of their work increases. When workers are able to learn and gain confidence from positive models of supervision, they in turn can more effectively move to supervisory positions and a stronger management pipeline is created.
Despite what is known about the importance of supervision, it remains challenging to implement for a range of reasons. This webinar outlined key elements of good practice in supervision and tools that can be used for achieving quality supervision. Presenters shared examples of promising practices in strengthening supervision. During the webinar, the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance also released and reviewed a new Guidance Manual on Strengthening Supervision for the Social Service Workforce, developed by the Alliance's Interest Group on Supervision.
Webinar Agenda:
- Defining Supervision and the Role it Plays in Strengthening Social Service Provision - Jane Calder, Global Social Service Workforce Alliance Supervision Interest Group Co-Chair and Senior Advisor for Child Protection for Asia and Pacific Regions, Save the Children International
In an effort to strengthen supervision, the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance established an interest group on the topic. The group worked together to define supervision, consolidate existing resources on the topic and provide recommendations for ways to strengthen quality implementation across development and humanitarian settings. Jane reviewed the interest group process and shared new guidance manual. - The Missing Link: An Integrated Model for Supervision - Kelly McBride, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Technical Advisor, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Psychosocial Centre
The IFRC Psychosocial Center is collaborating with Trinity College Dublin on Supervision: The Missing Link project, which is in its first phase of developing an Integrated Model for Supervision (IMS). The IMS aims to provide guidance and tools to improve mental health and psychosocial support supervision, specifically in emergency setting. Kelly shared an overview of the project and findings. - Using a Competency Based Approach for Social Service Workforce Strengthening in Myanmar - Sazan Baban, Child Protection Case Management Advisor, Save the Children Myanmar
A competency-based approach to case management was developed by Save the Children, Myanmar for a systematic, comprehensive and practical approach to capacity building in supervision for para social workers, NGO and government case workers, and case supervisors. Through this approach, Save the Children Myanmar is increasing training quality, assessment, accreditation and motivation for social service workers. Sazan presented on this competency-based approach that includes developing job descriptions, support on the job and certification. - Coaching and Mentorship of the Social Service Workforce for Improved OVC outcomes: A collaborative effort among CRS, Local Government and Local Implementing Partners - James Githui, MWENDO Program Manager-Nairobi Region, Kenya
- The MWENDO OVC project has implemented several innovations in Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) case management, including working with local partners and government to increase sustainability and investment in quality supervision for the social service workforce. James presented on MWENDO’s collaborative capacity building approach to address gaps noted among the social service workforce using coaching, mentoring and supervision; share the rationale, justification, implementation and outcomes of the approach; and enumerate challenges, lessons learned and recommendations for OVC programming.
Presenters:
Jane Calder, Global Social Service Workforce Alliance Supervision Interest Group Co-Chair and Senior Advisor for Child Protection for Asia and Pacific Regions, Save the Children International (SCI)
Based in Bangkok, Jane is a trained social worker with 40 years of working with vulnerable children. She has managed and advised protection programs in the UK, East Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Jane is passionate about and known for developing, managing and advising programs for improving the care and protection of the most vulnerable children. She leads SCI’s global Task Group on Child Protection Systems and has developed an internal scheme to train and certify SCI protection staff. She is a member of the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance Steering Committee and co-chair of the Interest Group on Supervision.
Kelly McBride, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Technical Advisor, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Psychosocial Centre
Based in Denmark, Kelly has a clinical background in providing direct mental health and psychosocial support to those who have been impacted by conflict and torture, as well as training and supervision across many contexts. She is the lead on the Supervision: The Missing Link project.
Sazan Baban, Child Protection Case Management Advisor, Save the Children Myanmar
Sazan has almost eight years of experience in supporting child protection programs and leading capacity building initiatives in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, in particular in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, East Ukraine, and most recently in Myanmar. With Save the Children Myanmar, she has led the harmonization of the child protection case management approach including the development of key tools, and establishing a competency-based framework for the social service workforce across the country.
James Githui, MWENDO Program Manager-Nairobi Region, Kenya
James is a public health and project management specialist with 13 years’ experience implementing Health, HIV, OVC and child protection projects, including four years working as a technical advisor service delivery for OVC, providing guidance on robust supportive supervision approaches to ensure OVC services are delivered in line with PEPFAR requirements and GOK continuous quality improvement standards. He holds a Bachelors and and Masters degrees in Public Health. Currently serving as the Project Manager for the USAID MWENDO OVC project in the Nairobi region. MWENDO OVC is a five-year USAID funded project in Kenya with a goal to improve welfare and protection of children affected by HIV/AIDS in 13 counties of Kenya.
This webinar was made possible with support from Primero and UNICEF and also through the generous support of the American people through the U.S. Agency for International Development by the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance under Partnerships Plus cooperative agreement number 7200AA18CA00032, funded September 28, 2018, and implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. The contents are the responsibility of Global Social Service Workforce Alliance and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
