Not so strange! An application of attachment theory and feminist psychology to social work supervision

Authors

  • Sue Hanna Background as a health social worker working in mental health, women’s health, working with elders and with children with disabilities and their families. Also worked for the Department of Child Youth and Family Services as a frontline child protection social worker and then as a practice consultant for both Care and Protection and Youth Justice. A senior lecturer and current Programme Leader of the Bachelor of Social Work programme at the University of Auckland.

Keywords:

statutory social work, child protection, supervision, professional accountability, gender, feminist psychology,

Abstract

Frontline statutory social work is tough and stressful. The dangerous dynamics that can develop in client-worker, collegial and interagency relationships in child protection practice have been well documented (Reder, Duncan, & Gray, 1993; Hughes & Pengelly, 1997; Morrison, 1997) and regular supervision has been identified as one key to ensuring professional accountability, practice competence and practice safety (Morrison, 2001).

But should female gender be an issue in the supervisor / supervisee relationship? This paper will examine the emotional minefield that can be supervision and argues that attachment theory and insights from feminist psychologists will better enable existing supervisory practices to respond more effectively and creatively to the needs of women supervisees in child protection social work practice. 

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Published

2022-12-14

How to Cite

Hanna, S. (2022). Not so strange! An application of attachment theory and feminist psychology to social work supervision. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 19(3), 12–22. Retrieved from https://anzswjournal.nz/anzsw/article/view/442

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 3 (2007)

Section

Articles

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