Social workers calling out for better supervision – it’s their right.

Rachel Snell, Project Manager for our ISW and Psychological Assessment Service has shared her thoughts following the release of survey results showing that most social workers are dissatisfied with their supervision

For many social workers, supervision has become a ‘nice to have’ rather than a core part of their ongoing professional development. For us, this represents a failure to provide very basic care and oversight to professionals carrying out sensitive, complex and often traumatic work, and something which should be their right to receive.

Community Care recently published the results of a survey showing that nearly 60% of social workers reported being either “not at all” or only “a little” satisfied with the supervision they receive. Many described it as a tick-box exercise, focused more on caseload updates than on emotional support or ethical reflection.

This is despite it being a vital way of adhering to Social Work England’s professional standards, which are the minimum threshold for safe and effective practice. It may not be a mandatory way of achieving this, but it is transformative. It reflects a commitment to ethical practice, emotional wellbeing, and professional integrity.

In a profession built on supporting others, supervision is how we support ourselves. it is not mandatory but is a professional choice, and one that can profoundly enhance practice and wellbeing.

This distinction is important—it means Independent Social Workers can choose to engage in supervision not because they must, but because it enhances their practice, supports their wellbeing, and reflects the standards they set for themselves.

Independent social work often involves complex, emotionally demanding work. Whether you're writing Section 7 reports, navigating safeguarding concerns, or working through complex assessments, the emotional and ethical weight of the work is real. Independent social workers often work alone and do not have colleagues around to support them. Clinical supervision offers a space to reflect on these challenges, explore dilemmas, and maintain emotional resilience. It’s not about oversight—it’s about support. The absence of regular reflective and relational supervision can also leave professionals without a space to explore, process, and grow.

It's something we’re proud to offer any independent social worker looking for this critical CPD function, and something we truly believe is essential in maintaining high professional standards whilst also protecting individual wellbeing.

We believe supervision should be empowering, not prescriptive. Our clinical supervision service is designed to meet the needs of ISWs who value reflective practice. It’s flexible, confidential, and tailored to the realities of independent work. It’s a space for growth, not evaluation.

Our Services

If you're an Independent Social Worker seeking a reflective, supportive space to strengthen your practice, we invite you to explore our clinical supervision service.

Whether you're working in private law, supporting local authorities, or navigating complex assessments, our supervision offer is designed to fit around your work and values. It’s flexible, confidential, and grounded in the realities of independent practice.

Get in touch to find out more, or to be matched with an experienced supervisor who understands the unique challenges of independent social work.