Supervising Social Worker Skills: Supervision Foundations and Professional Responsibilities

This course is the first in a four-part Supervising Social Worker Skills programme. It focuses on the role of the Supervising Social Worker (SSW) in providing effective oversight, support, and appropriate challenge to foster carers.
 
Participants will explore statutory and professional responsibilities, developing a clear understanding of how supervision, support, and risk management intersect in practice. The session is designed to strengthen supervision skills, support foster carers’ resilience, and enhance confidence in managing difficult or challenging conversations.
 
By the end of the session, participants will be better equipped to balance supportive relationships with accountability and safeguarding responsibilities within fostering services.
 

What you’ll learn

By the end of this course, you will:
  • Explain the statutory and professional responsibilities of the Supervising Social Worker
  • Distinguish between supervision, support, and risk management when working with foster carers
  • Apply a range of supervision skills and approaches to support foster carers effectively
  • Develop strategies for managing and engaging in difficult or challenging conversations 

 

What you’ll gain

  • Increased confidence in your role as a Supervising Social Worker
  • Enhanced practical supervision skills to support foster carers effectively
  • Greater clarity in managing risk, accountability, and safeguarding responsibilities
  • Improved ability to handle complex or challenging discussions professionally
  • Stronger reflective and analytical practice skills

 

Who should attend?

Supervising Social Workers, Student Social Workers, Fostering Team Managers and other relevant Practitioners working in fostering services and fostering agencies.

 

Booking details:

Member rate £90 plus VAT

Non-member rate £125 plus VAT

This course will be delivered virtually via MS Teams.

Registration will begin at 9:15, confirmed delegates will be sent joining instructions by email a few days before the course start date.

For more information contact [email protected] or speak to your fostering service about funding a place on this course. 

View our cancellation policy

public 07 Sept 26 - 07 Sept 26 09:30 - 12:30 Training £90 plus VAT
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Programme overview

This course is part of our Supervising Social Worker Skills course programme.

The programme is designed to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and professional judgement of Supervising Social Workers (SSWs) working within fostering services. Across four practice-focused sessions, participants will explore their statutory and professional responsibilities, develop effective supervision and support strategies for foster carers, and enhance their ability to promote positive outcomes for children in care.

The course places a strong emphasis on reflective and analytical practice, professional curiosity, safeguarding, and trauma-informed approaches. Participants will consider how to work effectively with foster carers and the wider fostering household, ensure the voice of the child is central to decision-making, manage risk and monitor outcomes to inform care planning and supervision.

Through a combination of discussion, case examples, reflective exercises, and skills-based learning, Supervising Social Workers will consolidate their practice, increase confidence in managing risk and complex situations, and identify their own ongoing supervision and development needs.

 

The Supervising Social Worker Skills programme consists of the following four practice focused sessions:

  1. Supervision Foundations and Professional Responsibilities
  2. Foster Carer Reviews, Safeguarding and Analysis
  3. Protective Care, the fostering household and the child’s voice
  4. Outcomes, Trauma-Informed Practice, and Consolidation

 

Save by booking the full series for £350 plus VAT, contact us to access the discounted rate.

Supervising Social Worker Skills

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