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Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date01 June 1969
DOI10.1177/026455056901500206
Date01 June 1969
Subject MatterArticles
/tmp/tmp-17GV6F47maMDyT/input
probation forum
PROFESSIONAL STATUS
I WOULD like to comment on Miss Hamilton’s letter on Professional Status.
Supervision of qualified social workers is, in my view, an unhealthy extension of
the healthy state that prevails when social workers seek consultation.
It would be interesting to know both the source of demand for such super-
vision and the reasoning on which it is based. A search of social work literature
on the subject shows some inconsistencies.
Monger, for example, discussing casework supervision during first year of
practice maintains that &dquo;It may be fairly claimed, however, that casework
supervision in the long ruti assists the development of independence&dquo;. But
Hollis remarks &dquo;In recent years there has been a tendency to move away from
supervision on the ground that it fosters an unnecessarily long period of depen-
dence in the worker&dquo;. She goes on, &dquo;Such results can arise if the supervisor
does not give real allegiance to the goal of the worker, moving as rapidly as
possible into consultation&dquo;.
Turning to tracing the demand for such supervision, again conflicting
assertions are made. Monger, quoting Muriel Cunliffe, claims &dquo;Many British
workers who have been practising for years, have told me of their wish to have
casework supervision within their service&dquo;. However, Joyce Warham discussing
staff supervision and development mentions that &dquo;resistance to the idea of
staff supervision in this country is widespread&dquo;.
It seems to me that the advocates of casework supervision have still to show
who wants such supervision and on what grounds. Finally, one of the most
important questions they should answer is, how can you equate casework
supervision with professional status?
DAVID CAMPBELL
You INVITE (short) comment upon the letters from Miss Hamilton and Mr.
Parkinson (Forum, March).
I agree completely with Miss Hamilton but neither she nor Mr. Parkinson
should underestimate the difficulty.
For widely...

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