Impact of supervision on social worker's job performance: implications for service delivery

Abstract

Within the public administration spectrum, Social Workers are expected to provide services efficiently and effectively to their clients and this can be achieved through a critical role known as supervision. This paper aims to evaluate how Social Work Supervision affects job performance in the Department of Social Development, Polokwane Sub-District. The objective was to investigate the impact of supervision on Social Workers' job performance. Qualitative research was employed and descriptive research design was used. The data was collected through a semistructured face-to-face interview from six (6) cluster supervisors and twelve (12) Social Workers who are employed by the Department of Social Development, Polokwane Sub-District. The sample consisted of cluster supervisors who had more than three months' experience of providing supervision in the Department of Social Development, Polokwane SubDistrict and no acting cluster supervisor was selected to participate in the study. The Social Workers had more than three months of working experience at Department of Social Development, Polokwane Sub-District. These Social Workers were not on internship programme. Thematic data analysis was used. It was found that those Supervision sessions which are conducted by effective supervisors armed with good supervisory skills had a positive effect on the job performance of Social Workers, as compared to ineffective supervisors without good supervisory skills. It is concluded that the Cluster supervisors who render supervision should receive supervision training that will enable them to conduct professional supervision.