Describe best practices the supervisor utilizes to negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on the behalf of clients and constituencies. For example, if the supervisor needs to provide coaching or engage in disciplinary action with

Introduction

Mentorship and engaging with colleagues are important components of professional development. In this assignment, you engage with an experienced social work supervisor as a means of better understanding best practices within the profession. Through this glimpse into the real world of social work, you will better understand the concepts and theories you are learning in your course. By successfully completing this assignment, you demonstrate your proficiency in the following EPAS and the advanced generalist specialized behaviors:

Competencies Covered

C1.SP.A Utilize best practices in ethical decision making by applying leadership skills, technology, relevant laws and regulations, core values, and standards of the NASW Code of Ethics to an ethical problem-solving model to inform ethical decision making in the specialization of advanced generalist practice.  

●      Related Assignment Criterion: Describe some of the most common ethical issues or dilemmas encountered by the supervisor and/or agency. Explain how the supervisor and/or agency makes ethical decisions. Is there a specific process? Does the agency utilize the NASW Code of ethics or a different ethical code?

C1.SP.B Guided by best advanced generalist practice skills, apply professional behavior and leadership skills in oral, written, and electronic communication with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in the specialization of advanced generalist practice. 

●      Related Assignment Criterion: Utilize ethical written, oral, and electronic communication skills.

C1.SP.C Integrate the ethical and effective use of technology at all levels of practice in the specialization of advanced generalist social work with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 

●      Related Assignment Criterion: How does the agency utilize technology? Examples include client records, client surveys, billing, communication with other professionals, etc. What ethical concerns arise with the use of technology?

C4.SP.A Apply leadership skills, ethical use of technology and research findings to inform and improve practice, policy, and programs in the specialization of advanced generalist practice settings. 

●      Related Assignment Criterion: After the interview, utilize research to evaluate which leadership theory the supervisor’s strategies align with.  (Examples include transformational, transactional, laissez-faire, etc.)  Analyze the strengths and limitations of this leadership style.  

C6.SP.B Apply leadership skills, emerging technologies, empathy, self-reflection, interpersonal skills, in culturally responsive engagement strategies with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in the specialization of advanced generalist practice.

●      Related Assignment Criterion: How does the supervisor apply leadership skills, emerging technologies, empathy, self-reflection, interpersonal skills, and culturally responsive engagement strategies with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities? 

C8.SP.B Analyze and integrate culturally responsive best practice theories and methods in the specialization of advanced generalist practice to negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on the behalf of clients and constituencies.  

●      Related Assignment Criterion: Describe best practices the supervisor utilizes to negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on the behalf of clients and constituencies. For example, if the supervisor needs to provide coaching or engage in disciplinary action with a supervisee, mediate a situation, or negotiate with a supervisee or client, what skills or strategies do they use?

 C8.SP.C Apply leadership skills, decision making, interprofessional conceptual frameworks, and emerging technologies in the specialization of advanced generalist social work practice when intervening with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities to promote systemic change towards client sustainability. 

●      Related Assignment Criterion: What leadership skills does the supervisor identify as most valuable when intervening with supervisees, clients, families, groups, organizations, and communities? Does the supervisor utilize emerging technologies to aid in the intervention?

C8.SP.D Apply leadership, technology, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills in the specialization of advanced generalist practice when evaluating intervention with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities to achieve goals. 

●      Related Assignment Criterion: How does the supervisor evaluate the intervention or follow up with the supervisee when intervention is needed?

Assignment Directions

For this assignment you will interview a social work leader and then develop a PowerPoint presentation. The presentation should be approximately 8–10 slides, 10–15 minutes in length, and recorded on video. (Only your presentation should be recorded, not the interview.)  You will also conduct research on the information you gather from the interview and connect the supervisor’s skills and strategies to a leadership theory and advanced generalist best practices as a supervisor. It is recommended that you share the assignment instructions and interview questions with the supervisor prior to the interview, so the supervisor has time to prepare. The information you gather through your interview and research should include content that prepares you to competently discuss the following areas:

Introduction

Begin the presentation by introducing the supervisor you interviewed. Include their name, place of employment, and number of years as a supervisor. What services does the agency provide? How many people and programs does the supervisor oversee?

Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior

Describe some of the most common ethical issues or dilemmas encountered by the supervisor and/or agency. Explain how the supervisor and/or agency makes ethical decisions. Is there a specific process? Does the agency utilize the NASW Code of ethics or a different ethical code? (C1.SP.A)

How does the agency promote and utilize technology ethically? Examples include client records, client surveys, billing, communication with other professionals, etc. What ethical concerns arise with the use of technology? (C1.SP.C)

Analyze the strengths and limitations of ethical decision-making model and the ethical use of technology by applying the NASW Code of Ethics and NASW Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice.

Competency 6: Engage With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

How does the supervisor apply leadership skills, emerging technologies, empathy, self-reflection, interpersonal skills, and culturally responsive engagement strategies with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities? (C6.SP.B)

Analyze the strengths and limitations of the supervisor’s engagement strategies.

Competency 8: Intervene With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Describe and analyze best practices the supervisor utilizes to negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on the behalf of clients and constituencies. For example, if the supervisor needs to provide coaching or engage in disciplinary action with a supervisee, mediate a situation, or negotiate with a supervisee or client, what skills or strategies do they use? (C8.SP.b)

Explain the leadership skills the supervisor feels are most valuable when intervening with supervisees, clients, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Does the supervisor utilize emerging technologies to aid in the intervention? (C8.SP.C)

How does the supervisor evaluate the intervention or follow up with the supervisee when intervention is needed? (C8.SP.D)

Analyze the strengths and limitations of the supervisor’s intervention strategies. 

Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research Informed Practice

After the interview, utilize research to evaluate which leadership theory the supervisor’s strategies align with. (Examples include transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire.)  Analyze the strengths and limitations of this leadership style.  (C4.SP.A)

Assignment Requirements

The assignment you submit is expected to meet the following requirements:

●      Utilize ethical written, oral, and electronic communication: Guided by best advanced generalist practice skills, apply professional behavior and leadership skills in oral, written, and electronic communication with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in the specialization of advanced generalist practice. (C1.SP.B)

●      APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting standards. Include a title page, reference page, headers, and appendices as applicable. Use Academic Writer

●      Links to an external site.

●       for guidance in citing sources in proper APA style. See the Writing Center

●      Links to an external site.

●       for more APA resources specific to your degree level.

●      Cited resources: Minimum of five scholarly sources. All literature cited should be current, with publication dates within the past five years.

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