An ally or an enemy? Developing a trusting relationship between supervisor and supervisee

Abstract

Social work supervision, which has evolved worldwide, has been influenced by the recognition of the centrality of a conducive supervisory relationship for effective supervision. However, most supervisees experience the supervisory relationship as an unsafe practice environment, influenced by power relations, while supervisors are grappling with balancing the educational, administrative and supportive functions of supervision. To address challenges faced by the supervisor and supervisee, it is essential to maintain a supervisory relationship that is based on trust, collaboration, joint accountability, honesty, openness and a non-judgemental approach. Often, such a relationship is subverted by the need to comply with a neoliberal agenda that promotes a 'tick-box approach' to supervision rather than a humanistic-based relationship. This chapter questions whether the neoliberal agenda fosters an alliance or rivalry between the supervisor and supervisee, and advocates for strategies that the supervisor and supervisee can adopt to prioritise relationship-based supervisory practices. It concludes that to foster trusting supervisory relationships, it is necessary to acknowledge the diverse cultures, work settings and needs of supervisors and supervisees.