Leadership and supervision – SW/SSW
Leadership and supervision
You can develop your skills in contributing to and later delivering high quality supervision. You should make best use of all types of supervision including 1:1 supervision, group supervision and reflective practice groups. This is central to our Connected Practice model and critical to your ongoing practice development, wellbeing and resilience.
PCF: Values and Ethics, Equality and Diversity, Rights and Justice, Critical Reflection, Professional Leadership
KSS: 2, 9, 10
Essential
- Supervision and feedback within maximising performance – one day course (ESCC Learning Portal)
- Personal safety – one day course (ESCC Learning Portal)
Advanced
- Practice Education Traineeship PE1 & PE2 (St Mary’s House; September 2025 start date) – complete the Practice Education Traineeship flyer and return to the Social Work Education Team.
Webinar
- Updating supervision policy and how to record reflective supervision – Single Source
- Inclusive practice and supervision – Single Source
- Managers’ back-to-basics lunchtime webinar: reflective practice and supervision policy – Single Source
- 1:1 supervision
- Group supervision
- Reflective practice
- Connected Practice Supervision Policy (ESCC Single Source)
Professional leadership skills can be developed through supporting the learning of others and developing skills in practice education by sharing your own knowledge, skills alongside emerging research and its application to your practice. Show your capacity for leading practice by your contribution to supervision and to team meetings.
PCF: Values and Ethics, Equality and Diversity, Rights and Justice, Critical Reflection, Professional Leadership
KSS: 2, 9, 10
University of Sussex
- Practice Education in Social Work: stage 2 (on campus; September 2025 start date; 15 credits)
How to apply
If you are currently enrolled on the PE Traineeship you will be contacted separately. If you have completed PE1 a year or more ago, please complete the University of Sussex application form and return to the Social Work Education Team.
University of Brighton
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Practice Education, Assessment and Supervision: stage 2 (on campus; October 2025 start date; 20 credits)
- 1:1 supervision
- Group supervision
- Supervision of students on shadowing placements
- Consider the Practitioners who Teach programme
- Consider leading your team as a beacon research team – contact Claire Robson for more information.
Continuing development of social work practice, practice supervision and education is essential to your development towards leadership and management.
You should make the most of all learning opportunities including; attending conferences or training events and look at qualifications offered by other learning providers.
PCF: Values and Ethics, Equality and Diversity, Rights and Justice, Critical Reflection, Professional Leadership
KSS: 2, 9, 10
- Practitioner research (CPD module at University of Sussex; on campus; January 2026 start date; 15 credits) – if you are interested in this course, please contact Rachel Moran and Claire Robson to discuss your idea for research.
- 1:1 supervision
- Group supervision
- Supervision of students on shadowing placements
- Consider the Practitioners who Teach programme
- Begin to lead group supervision/practice development sessions.
Social work is often challenging and has an emotional impact which is why social work professionals need to balance organisational demands and service user expectations with our own values and abilities. Maintaining professional resilience within a supportive organisational culture is necessary to help us navigate these responsibilities.
Social work professionals are supported to develop and maintain their sense of professional authority, confidence in the face of challenge and autonomy in decision-making to effect positive change. As your progress through your career you also support others in promoting their resilience.
A broad range of skills, resources and practices are needed to help you to thrive in busy and challenging work settings.
PCF: Professionalism, Critical Reflection, Intervention skills, Content and Organisation
KSS/PQS: 9, 10
- From surviving to thriving: designing your wellbeing toolkit – half day workshop (ESCC Learning Portal)
- Use of ICT and practice resources
- Case work
- 1:1 supervision
- Group supervision
- Critical reflection
- Self-directed learning
- Mindfulness (ESCC Single Source)
- Resilience tools (ESCC Single Source)
Consider being part of the resilience and wellbeing group which undertakes activities throughout the year to support resilience work within teams and with families. Contact the Principal Social Worker for more information.