Tips for Owning Your Own
Supervision in Child and
Youth Care
By: Frank Delano
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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Child and Youth Care Work
 We deal with challenging behaviours from children
 We can’t always see our “successes” short term, sometimes
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we never see them as they may happen years later
We get cursed at more than most jobs
We don’t always feel the support we want from other
agencies or funding sources
The work raises all sorts of emotions and feelings in us
The hours are often unpredictable and crazy!
The community often doesn’t appreciate our work and sees
us as “babysitters”
The pay is LOW
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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If I Could Supervise My Supervisor I Would...
 Ask them to start supervision on time and have no
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interruptions
Ask them not to take their frustrations out on me
Tell them I don’t always need an answer, sometimes I
just need an ear
Demand they prepare for my supervision session
Empower my supervisor to take several trainings to be
able to better supervise me
Help them learn to be more empathic
Tell them to guide, not judge
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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If I Could Supervise My Supervisor I Would...
 Work part of the Holidays with me. I need support and
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it is hard to be away from my families
Tell them to listen attentively, and with empathy
Suggest they be more professional rather than just
trying to be a “buddy”
Ask them what the agency is supposed to be doing
with the kids…if they know
Point out their negative attitude is contagious
Ask them to trust me more
Give them a raise for putting up with me!
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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Supervision
(F. Delano and J. Shah)
Supervision is a professional relationship that provides support,
education, monitoring of quality, and creates a safe forum to reflect
on professional practice. It should encourage constructive
confrontation and critical thinking that informs and improves the
practice of all parties. Respecting the inherent hierarchy in the
relationship, it should accept the ethical responsibility to use power in
a thoughtful manner. The dynamics in the supervisory relationship
can create a parallel process in all other relationships including that of
the client/worker.
Ultimately, supervision should be the vehicle to create dynamic
growth, establish high professional standards and enhance quality and
culturally competent services.
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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POWER
 Assigned authority: One party can always “pull rank”
 Administrative power: Lifestyle impact
 The “power of access”: Quality and quantity
 Impact on self esteem and sense of competency
 Expectation of supervisee to reveal more about themselves
 Mediates relationships and image in and outside of agency.
This is REAL POWER!
 Power and influence doesn’t stop when the professional
relationship ends
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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“Games” Supervisees Play
(F. Delano and J. Shah)
 The “easy button”
 Shopping for answers
 “Supervisor Tipper”
 I heard everyone talking….
 Voice mail roulette
 I already told you my weakness….
 You don’t understand these kids…
 You could look it up
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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“Managing Your Boss”
(Gabarro and Kotter)
 Accept it is normal for each person’s needs and
styles to be different and tries to mesh them when
possible.
 Function on mutual expectations and
responsibilities…each person in this relationship
significantly needs the other.
 Keep the supervisor informed. Remember that
your supervisor is ultimately responsible for your
work and also has a supervisor to report to.
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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“Managing Your Boss”
(Gabarro and Kotter)
 Selectively uses the supervisor’s time and
resources.
 Keep a relationship based on honesty and
dependability. It will lead to the delegation of
responsibility and independence you seek in your
work. It is also the basis of virtually all positive
relationships in life.
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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Confrontation
(F. Delano and J. Shah)
A proactive intervention to intercept and redirect behavior
that may require change
and
To create a forum to better understand and guide the
judgment/practice of both parties in order to ultimately
improve quality and culturally competent service.
***Start every confrontation with “Help me
understand….”
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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The Two “Magic Questions”
 What information do I have that they
don’t that will help them see it my way?
 What information do they have that I
don’t that will help them see it my way?
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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1/3, 1/3, 1/3 Agenda Model
 1/3 of the agenda is the responsibility of the supervisee to
prepare
 1/3 of the agenda is the responsibility of the supervisor to
prepare
 Respecting the inherent hierarchy in the relationship the
supervisor retains discretion for the final 1/3
 **Supervisee should hand in agenda one day In advance
and consistently look to drive the final 1/3 of the agenda
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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Sample 1/3 CYC Worker Agenda
 My vacation request for August
 Can I attend the training on better understanding trauma
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next week?
Johnny and his mother’s visit on Sunday…what to look for
Observations when I covered the overnight shift last week
My frustrations with Derrick and how he behaves toward
me
Better understanding of the reason for the new policy on
recreation trips
My participation in the evening activities
restructuring…ideas to give me more impact
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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OWNING YOUR OWN SUPERVISION
 Ask! Ask! Ask!, and then ASK!
 View Supervision as a way to grow personally and
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professionally. “With the privilege of professional judgment
comes the responsibility of reflective practice!”
Seek out “supervision” anywhere you can and from anyone
willing
Remember to ask the two magic questions
Learn and be willing to practice the art of constructive
confrontation with your supervisor
Bring an agenda to supervision (use the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 model)
Participate in group supervision
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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OWNING YOUR OWN SUPERVISION
 Politely “insist” on a timely evaluation and use your
option to respond
 Politely “insist” on regular supervision sessions
 Training! Take all you can and be seen as one who
will
 Establish a “teaching diagnosis” of your supervisor
 Learn the art of “managing your boss”
 Be empathic with your supervisor’s issues and
pressures…you may be there one day!
 Remember: IT’S A RELATIONSHIP
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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Presenter Contact Information
 Frank Delano, LMSW
 Professional Package: Training for Critically Thinking
Professionals (Piermont, New York, USA)
 fdelano24@aol.com
 914-673-7802
Frank Delano
Fdelano24@aol.com
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