Module 4: The Role of the Consulting Supervisor

Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Slide 4.0.1 Slide 4.0.2 Slide 4.0.3

Module Purpose: The purpose of this module is to introduce participants to the role of the consulting supervisor, define key responsibilities and behaviors of the consulting supervisor, and provide transfer-of-learning opportunities to practice these skills.

Learning Objectives:1. Describe the difference between compliance supervision and consulting supervision.2. Define the roles of teacher, coach, and mentor in supervision.3. Identify the key responsibilities and behaviors of consulting supervisors.4. Describe the importance of consulting supervisors for improved assessment, decision-

making, and safety.5. Assess supervisor/investigator and/or case manager skills for understanding and

demonstrating practice and policy changes.6. Apply the consulting supervisor model.7. Effectively demonstrate consulting supervisor skills, behaviors, and knowledge.

Notes:

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Unit 4.1: The Role of the Consulting Supervisor

Time: 3 hours, 30 minutes

Unit Overview: This module introduces participants to the role and responsibilities of the consulting supervisor and coach as the champions of transfer-of-learning.

Learning Objectives:1. Describe the difference between compliance supervision and consulting supervision.2. Define the roles of teacher, coach, and mentor in supervision.3. Identify key responsibilities and behaviors of consulting supervisors.4. Describe the importance of consulting supervisors for improved assessment, decision-

making, and safety.5. Assess supervisor/investigator and/or case manager skills for understanding and

demonstrating practice and policy changes.6. Apply the consulting supervisor model.7. Effectively demonstrate consulting supervisor skills, behaviors, and knowledge.

Slide 4.1.4 Slide 4.1.5

Notes:

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Slide 4.1.6 Notes:

Slide 4.1.7 Notes:

Key Points:Compliance Supervision is a model that focuses on:

• The completion of tasks.• Adherence to policies.• Meeting deadlines.

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Slide 4.1.8 Notes:

Key Points:Consulting supervision is a model that:

• Promotes a trusting partnership between supervisor and worker.• Encourages workers to think, rather than just check boxes.• Relies on joint problem-solving, whenever possible.• Necessitates ongoing and frequent communication between the worker and supervisor.

Slide 4.1.9 Notes:

Key Points:Compliance-focused supervisors give tasks, such as:

• Keep that child safe.• Make sure mom does not use drugs again.• Keep that teenager from running away from her foster home.

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Slide 4.1.10 Notes:

Key Points: Keeping a child safe is not a task; it is a puzzle. If leadership supports compliance supervision, child welfare professionals will check boxes

and little more. If leadership supports consulting supervision, true change will far more likely occur.

Slide 4.1.11 Notes:

Key Points:Consulting supervisors ask questions that make workers think and foster joint problem-solving, such as:

• How do we make sure this child is safe?• How do we ensure mom follows the treatment plan?• Is a foster home the best place for this teen?

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Slide 4.1.12 Notes:

Key Points:You must assess supervisor competence because it is:

• Central to worker retention.• Key to the fidelity of the safety methodology.• Vital to the safety of children in the child welfare system.• The lynchpin to the effectiveness of the child welfare practice model.

Slide 4.1.13 Notes:

Key Points: Leadership must support consulting supervision – not compliance supervision! Five steps of the consulting supervision model:

1. Ask2. Reflect3. Explore4. Partner5. Coach

Slide 4.1.14 Notes:

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Key Points:1. Ask: The process of asking questions.2. Reflect: To throw it back (heat, light, or sound) without absorbing it.3. Explore: To search or travel for the purpose of discovery.4. Partner: To join, to unite, to engage.5. Coach: To instruct, to train, to mentor.

Activity #1: Consulting Supervision Model

Directions: A video will be played that demonstrates the consulting supervision model Participants should pay attention to each of the 5 steps.

Activity Notes:There are 5 steps to the consulting supervision model:

Ask Reflect Explore Partner Coach

Slide 4.1.15 Notes:

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Key Points:• Helps discover what the child welfare professional knows.• Helps discover what the child welfare professional doesn’t know.• Identifies assumptions vs. facts.• Uncovers known or unknown biases and/or emotions.• Respects the knowledge of the worker and supervisor.

Slide 4.1.16 Notes:

Key Points:• A strength-based, nonjudgmental method of asking about a person’s thoughts, beliefs,

knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.• Is focused on the “discovery” of information, not finding solutions.• Examples:

o That’s interesting, what made you arrive at that conclusion?” oro “That sounds like an important observation. What other information do we need to

support this belief?”

Slide 4.1.17 Notes:

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Slide 4.1.18 Notes:

Key Points:• The process of thinking independently about what you know and checking assumptions/feelings.• The process of thinking together about what you know.• The process of interpreting what it might mean.

Slide 4.1.19 Notes:

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Slide 4.1.20 Notes:

Key Points:• The process of thinking about the possibilities for this situation/family/child.• The application of critical thinking practices to critical decision-making.• Possible questions to ask:

o What are we missing?o What could go wrong here?o What else does the family need?

Slide 4.1.21 Notes:

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Slide 4.1.22 Notes:

Key Points:• Join forces.• Collaborate.• Partnering brings out the best of both of you.• Don’t assume one of you has the answer.• Look for compromise/synergy.

Slide 4.1.23 Notes:

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Slide 4.1.24 Notes:

Key Points:• The most difficult step for supervisors, as it is easier to jump in and take over or list tasks

for the worker and ask that they be carried out (which is compliance supervision).• Coaching includes activities such as:

o Developing a plan together.o Encouraging and supporting the child welfare professional.o Make sure employees have what they need.o Let go when employees are ready.

Slide 4.1.25 Notes:

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Slide 4.1.26 Notes:

Key Points:• Designed to help child welfare professionals and supervisors develop critical thinking skills.• Designed to promote a partnership between supervisors and child welfare professionals.

Activity #2: The Commitment Memo

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Directions: Write a commitment memo to yourself Answer the questions on slide 4.2.27.(What do I need to learn?, what do I need to

strengthen? what do I need to stop doing?) Share results with peer coach

Activity Notes:

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Slide 4.1.27 Notes:

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