When Questions are the Answers
Harlow, Elizabeth; Daley, Maureen; Stone, Karen (British Association of Social Workers, 2015-10)
Professional supervision enables social work practitioners to reflect on their performance in relation to organizational goals, but also their own developmental needs. Over recent times, front line managers have been encouraged to incorporate reflective techniques in their supervision, such as those associated with coaching. Among coaching theorists there is a consensus that ‘questions are the answers’. Good quality questioning conversations, which are part of a trusting supervisory relationship, may be of benefit to social work practitioners as well as the people they aim to help.
Coaching, supervision and the social work zeitgeist
Harlow, Elizabeth (British Association of Social Workers, 2013-03-20)
With reference to local authorities in England, this paper acknowledges the intensified critique of the managerial context in which social work is carried out. It recognizes that professional supervision has been in jeopardy, as principles of corporate line management have overshadowed the approaches of the past, and most particularly the supportive components. However, recent developments have reinvigorated the interest in relationship based social work as well as relationship based supervision. Surprisingly or not, it is executive and business coaching that is seen as offering fruitful techniques for front line managers and practitioners, with the possibility of encouraging the progress of this particular trend.
Evaluation of the CWDC’s support to front line managers project
Harlow, Elizabeth; Blunt, Gordan; Stanley, Nick (2011)
Coaching, and the social work zeitgeist
Harlow, Elizabeth (2011-09-01)
Harlow, Elizabeth (SAGE, 2013-12-16)
Harlow, Elizabeth; Izod, Karen (Taylor and Francis, 2015-06-01)
This guest editorial introduces the special edition on the supervision of social work practice
Harlow, Elizabeth (Sage, 2015-09-28)
In England in 2010, the then Children’s Workforce Development Council introduced an initiative which aimed to support front line social work managers in the performance of their role. This article reflects on the way in which support was interpreted and implemented by the Children’s Workforce Development Council and the local authorities that participated in the project, but also the relevance of the project for the social work profession in England at the time.