Social work supervision of young people

Authors: Triseliotis, John¹; Borland, Moira²; Hill, Malclom³; Lambert, Lydia⁴

Source: Child & Family Social Work, Volume 3, Number 1, January 1998 , pp. 27-35(9)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $48.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

This paper summarizes findings on 50 teenagers supervised by local authority social services (work) departments. Interviews were held with social workers, young people and parents at the start of intervention and about a year later. Pre-tests and post-tests were also used to complement other statistical and qualitative data. After identifying the main reasons for the teenagers being on formal or informal supervision, the paper moves on to discuss the process, content and outcome of supervision as perceived by each of the three key actors. It also outlines what the young people and their parents found positive and helpful about supervision. Finally the paper demonstrates that forms of help and control need not be opposites and that social workers can help some very troubled teenagers. However, in order for services to have an impact, they have to be deployed as part of a package rather than as alternatives.

Keywords: outcomes; supervision; teenagers

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2206.1998.00069.x

Affiliations: 1: Visiting Professor and Senior Research Fellow, University of Strathclyde 2: Research Fellow, University of Glasgow 3: Professor of Social Work, University of Glasgow 4: former Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh

Publication date: 1998-01-01