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Supervision of fear in social work. A re-evaluation of reassurance

This paper acknowledges the crucial importance of supervision to social work practice. Reference is made to a research study in which 61 employees of Social Services departments were interviewed with regard to times when they had experienced fear in their work. One of the questions they were asked was 'What responses would you like from an ideal supervisor to whom you took an experience of fear?' Answers to this question revealed that participants wanted a supervisor to 'be there' for them, have time for them and to listen to what they had to say without criticism. Understanding, acknowledgement, recognition, validation, affirmation and confirmation of the supervisee were also thought to be important. Detailed descriptions taken from the responses of two social workers interviewed for the study convey a sense of the fears they experienced and the impact of these fears. What they subsequently found helpful in their processing of the fears is also described. In the light of what participants appeared to want from supervision the paper concludes with some thoughts relating to the function of reassurance within the supervisory relationship. Relevant writings by Klein and Winnicott are highlighted in this discussion.