The Social Work Concierge, LLC

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Clinical Supervision

Supervision is a key part of becoming a skilled social worker, and it’s essential for your growth and success. It helps protect clients, guides practitioners, and makes sure high standards are met. Building a strong supervisory relationship involves trust, confidentiality, support, and understanding. The supervisor offers guidance, while the supervisee applies social work theories, skills, and ethical knowledge in real-world settings. Both the supervisor and supervisee share the responsibility to carry out their role in this collaborative process. The State of Michigan requires social workers to participate in supervision while gaining 4,000 hours of post-grad experience. Supervision is 4 hours each month — either all one-on-one or split with some group sessions. Supervision can be in person or through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video conference platform — whatever works best for you.

The Purpose of Supervision

Clinical supervision through the Social Work Concierge, LLC has five main purposes. It enhances the competence and ethical practice of the supervisee. It ensures the welfare and safety of the client. It supports professional development, reflective practice, and emotional resilience. It facilitates the development of the supervisee’s professional identity and competence. Finally, it provides a safe space for discussing challenges and ethical dilemmas.

Roles & Responsibilities

Supervisor

The responsibility of the supervisor is establishing a trusting relationship with the supervisee and maintaining professional boundaries. The supervisor offers constructive feedback, mentorship, and support. The supervisor monitors the supervisee’s caseload and approach to practice. This includes ensuring legal, ethical, and professional standards are understood. Specific activities that will be implemented by the supervisor include:

  • Implementing quality administrative, clinical, and supportive oversight of the supervisee’s professional development
  • Examining/discussing assessement, diagnosis and treatment plans
  • Challenging the supervisee to implement evidence-based social work practices and techniques
  • Teaching basic clinical skills and interventions
  • Presenting and modeling appropriate directives
  • Intervening if client welfare is perceived to be at-risk by either supervisor or supervisee
  • Obtaining consultation as necessary
  • Completing supervisee documentation (supervision contract, supervision logs, confirming hours on licensing application etc.) in an expeditious and thorough manner
  • Being available by phone, email, or virtually for immediate consultation
  • Providing an alternate point of contact when absolutely unavailable
  • Reporting malicious, unethical behavior to LARA

Supervisee

The supervisee is responible for preparing for the supervision session. The supervisee actively participates and remains open to feedback. The supervisee takes responsibility for client care and professional development. Specific responsibilities include the following:

  • Obtaining and maintaining professional liability/malpractice insurance
  • Keeping track of all social work supervision hours
  • Upholding the NASW Code of Ethics and the specific regulations and rules of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
  • Being thoroughly prepared to discuss client cases, conceptualization, assessment and interventions during each session
  • Defending diagnoses, approaches, and techniques
  • Being willing to experiment with alternative methods of practice
  • Consulting with supervisor or designated contact person when necessary
  • Implementing the suggestions made by the supervisor in practice and subsequent sessions
  • Providing the supervisor with a copy of the LMSW license application
  • Providing LARA with all required documents for licensure

Supervision Expectations

  • Supervision occurs regularly
    • One hour weekly individual sessions (4 per month)
    • One hour bi-weekly individual sessions (2 per month) with one hour bi-weekly group supervision sessions (2 per month)
  • Case consultation
  • Clinical conceptualization
  • Administrative oversight
  • Application of theory
  • Issues related to person-in-context
  • Ethical dilemmas
  • Intakes, diagnosing, treatment planning, and discharging

Method of Evaluation

Our evaluation process is designed to support your progress and help you identify areas for improvement in a supportive, encouraging way. The supervisor will provide verbal feedback on an ongoing basis. This will be done during supervison sessions in both individual and group settings. Written evaluations will be provided quarterly using a 360° process. This method encourages the supervisee to engage in reflective practice and self-assessment.

Supervision Considerations

  1. During supervision, the supervisor may ask to review written case notes, diagnostic documents, and treatment plans.
  2. The supervisee may also request documents be reviewed at any time to receive insight and feedback.
  3. Issues related to the supervisee’s professional development will be discussed to promote personal growth, identity, confidence, and competence.
  4. Supervision supports legal obligations to report neglect, abuse or threats of harm.
  5. Power dynamics, implicit biases, and social justice in practice will be addressed.
  6. If either the supervisee or supervisor is unsatisfied with the supervision relationship, both parties will discuss the matter collaboratively and identify strategies to remedy issues.
  7. The supervision contract can be terminated, revised, or reviewed at any time per the request of the supervisor or supervisee.

Sign-up for Supervision

To reserve a spot for clinical supervision, please visit the appointments’ page. You can also call (616)345-0616 or email me at leonicaerwinlmsw@gmail.com. It is necessary to include the following information:

  • Your name and email address
  • Telephone number and preferred contact style (text, email, phone, etc)
  • Graduation date and/or when you expect to apply for/obtain your LMSW
  • Where you will obtain your 4000 hours of post graduate experience for your LMSW application
  • Expectations for supervision
  • Desired group size (please indicate if you want individual sessions or what size group is preferable)

Thank you and we look forward to helping you reach your professional goals.