A formative evaluation of supervision in residential care programs for chidren and youth

Abstract

In this study, it was theorized that the quality of staffing should be defined as one of the critical components of effective residential care service. Further, it was theorized that the quality of supervision received by care giving staff has a direct and an indirect influence on the quality of care received by clients and upon outcomes for clients. This formative evaluation project was designed as an exploratory-descriptive study to investigate the quality of supervision received by staff in two child and youth serving agencies in Winnipeg, Manitoba. A quantitative-qualitative methodology was used to measure staff satisfaction with supervision received, preferred style and type of supervision received, and predominant supervisory orientation. Kadushin's (1992) model of social work supervision which identifies three predominant and necessary functions of supervision: administrative, educative and supportive, provided the framework for the evaluation. It was theorized that residential care staff would prefer and require a supportive approach to supervision. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)