Date of Award
1-1-1992
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Child and Youth Care Administration
Advisor
Ashley Theron
Keywords
adult education, child care workers, child and youth care, communication, consultation, cross-cultural, interpersonal skills, motivation, professional development, program evaluation, self-awareness, staff training, supervision, supervision systems, supervisory relationships, supervisor training, surveys, training workshops, workplace learning
Abstract
The majority of child care practitioners promoted to supervisory positions did not have the essential skill and knowledge to ensure effective supervision. Alternatively, supervisory positions were given to practitioners from a related profession, such as social work. In this instance, supervisors had difficulty in recognizing the importance of supervision, and in knowing how to approach supervision of child and youth care workers.
The author designed and implemented a 10 week training programme for child and youth care supervisors. A total of 11 supervisors participated in a three-phase training program which included individual consultations and b training workshops. The workshops focused on the supervisory relationship, interpersonal skills in supervision, self-awareness and cross-cultural issues, issues and concepts in supervision] facilitating personal and professional development of child and youth care workers, establishing an effective supervision system, and special practice issues such as motivating and confronting supervisees.
Practicum evaluation data indicated a favorable outcome. All the supervisors increased their knowledge and skill through the training workshops, and outcomes of the post-training consultations indicated that those facilities in the region which sent supervisors to the course have improved their supervision system for child & youth care workers. The agency adopted the workshop series as a national course to be conducted in the various regions of the country on an annual basis. Appendices include a sample survey and the pre/post-test rating scale.