Supervision in Social Work NGOs in Bihor County

• Author: Marc, C. M.
• Position: Dept. of Sociology, Social Work and Philosophy, University of Oradea
• Pages: 173-180

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 5 (54) No. 2 - 2012

SUPERVISION IN SOCIAL WORK NGOs

IN BIHOR COUNTY

Cristiana Marcela MARC1

Abstract: This paper presents a qualitative research which aims at

analyzing supervision in the social services provided by NGOs in B ihor

County. We used the method of sociological investigation by means of

interview and data collection w as accomplished through the technique of

individual semi-structured interview. The obtained responses demonstrate

that individual supervision was mostly used and in most cases the

professional supervisor was from outside the organization. The respondent s

considered that supervision reduces professional stress. The main problems

encountered in the implementation of supervision are the lack of financial

resources and the association of supervision with bureaucratic control.

Key words: supervision in social work, NGOs, burn-out.

1 Dept. of Sociology, Social Work and Philosophy, University of Oradea.

1. Introduction

Supervision should represent an integral

part of practicing social work. "Having the

opportunity to share one's feelings of fear,

doubt, emotional reactions is a liberating

experience needed by each social worker

practitioner” [3, p. 109].

Although the minimum compulsory

standards regarding case management in the

area of protection of children’s rights

mentions the obligatoriness of supervising

human resources [4] in practice there are

difficulties in implementing the legislative

provisions.

Problems are due to the way supervision is

understood, often emphasizing its

administrative function. Thus, Ştefan

Cojocaru noticed the risk of the

transformation of social workers "into

bureaucrats, who gradually isolate themselves

from clients, focus more on documents, files,

neglecting the side of proper intervention" [1,

p. 143].

This paper presents a qualitative research

which aims at analyzing supervision in the

social services provided by NGOs in Bihor

County.

2. Objectives of the research

The research objectives are:

1. the identification of the types of

supervision used in the nongovernmental

organizations in Bihor county

2. the emphasis of the advantages of

supervision from the perspective of the social

workers in NGOs

3. the presentation of the difficulties

encountered in implementing supervision and

finding possible solutions for the identified

problems.

The universe of the research is represented

by the social workers in NGOs in Bihor

County. In order to obtain relevant