The Use of Practice Wisdom in Supervision

Abstract

This chapter discusses the use of supervisors’ practice wisdom in supervision. Social work practitioners’ practice wisdom is an under-researched area, and, generally, new practitioners have inadequate access to it unless experienced practitioners share it with them. The analysis of our interviews with social work supervisors revealed their practice wisdom in three areas. First, the supervisors’ practice wisdom was inextricably linked to their experience. It is important to share relevant experience with supervisees, reflect on it, and share what has not worked with humility and appropriately self-disclose. Second, the supervisors’ practice wisdom was identified in some of their statements such as “we cannot be good at everything”; “not just jump in, think”; and “if in doubt, throw them out.” Third, a list of supervision practice principles and techniques was identified in their narratives. These are presented in the chapter with the supervisors’ voices and our brief comments. The supervisors’ qualities and virtues were latent in their narratives.