The study examines the features and process of social work supervision in Hong Kong. A successful client outcome is the main objective, but supervisors perceive supervision as a rational and systematic process, whereas supervisees expect emotional support and teamwork. The supervisory relationship is both personal and professional. Tension is reduced by the traditional Chinese cultural values of reciprocity: qing, yuan, and 'face'. The strategy of using supervisory authority is 'consensus by consultation and consent' — which reduces conflict and gains acceptance. The journey of this study charts the interactions among my personal, professional, and academic identities. In order to conduct the research, I have to be more 'academic'. However, without my professional experience, I could not interpret the information in a meaningful manner. When I reviewed the data on the effects of traditional Chinese values, my personal self was reminded that I am also Chinese and that I share these beliefs.
Bogo, M. and Vayda, E. (1998) The Practice of Field Instruction in Social Work: Theory and Process, 2nd edn. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
2.
Creswell, J.W. (1998) Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing among Five Traditions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
3.
Fu, K. (1999) 'Supervisory Practice in Medical Social Service Setting of Scheduled II Hospitals in Hong Kong', MA in Social Work Dissertation, Department of Applied Social Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
4.
Glaser, B.G. and Strauss, A.L. (1967) The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research. Chicago, IL: Aldine De Gruyter.
5.
Harkness, D. (1995) 'The Art of Helping in Supervised Practice: Skills, Relationships, and Outcomes', The Clinical Supervisor13(1): 63-76.
6.
Harkness, D. (1997) 'Testing Interactional Social Work Theory: A Panel Analysis of Supervised Practice and Outcomes', The Clinical Supervisor15(1): 33-50.
7.
Harkness, D. and Hensley, H. (1991) 'Changing the Focus of Social Work Supervision: Effects on Client Satisfaction and Generalized Contentment', Social Work36(6): 506-12.
8.
Harkness, D. and Poertner, J. (1989) 'Research and Social Work Supervision: A Conceptual Review', Social Work34(2): 115-18.
9.
Ho, B.C.O. (1993) 'An Exploratory Study of the Relationship between Social Work Supervision and Organizational Climate in Children and Youth Centres in Hong Kong', unpublished Master of Public Administration Dissertation, Department of Political Science, University of Hong Kong.
10.
Holloway, S. and Brager, G. (1989) Supervising in the Human Services: The Politics of Practice. New York: Free Press .
11.
Hong Kong Council of Social Service (1998) Annual Report 1997-1998.
12.
Hong Kong Social Workers Association (1996 ) Special Issue for the 45th Anniversary of Hong Kong Social Workers Association. (in Chinese).
13.
Kadushin, A. (1981) 'Professional Development, Supervision, Training, and Education', in N. Gilbert and H. Specht (eds) Handbook of the Social Services , pp. 638-65. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
14.
Kadushin, A. (1992) Supervision in Social Work, 3rd edn. New York: Columbia University Press.
15.
Kadushin, A. and Harkness, D. (2002) Supervision in Social Work, 4th edn. New York: Columbia University Press.
16.
Ko, G.P.C. (1987) 'Casework Supervision in Voluntary Family Service Agencies in Hong Kong', International Social Work30(2): 171-84.
17.
Lam, Y.Y. (1997) 'Leadership Behaviour: Supervisor and Subordinates Communication Pattern in Family Service Centre', MA in Social Work Dissertation, Department of Applied Social Studies, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
18.
Leung, Y.M. (1997) 'An Exploratory Study on the Supervision Function Performed by the Superintendents of the Residential Homes for the Elderly' , MA in Social Work Dissertation, Department of Applied Social Studies, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
19.
Miller, I. (1987) 'Supervision in Social Work', in A. Minahan (ed.) Encyclopaedia of Social Work , 18th edn, Vol. 2, pp. 748-56. Silver Spring, MD: National Association of Social Workers .
20.
Munson, C.E. (1981) 'Style and Structure in Supervision', Journal of Education for Social Work17(1): 65-72.
21.
Munson, C.E. (2002) Handbook of Clinical Social Work Supervision, 3rd edn. New York: Haworth Press.
22.
Ng, M.C. (1996) Hong Kong Social Workers Association: The Special Issue for the 45th Anniversary. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Social Workers Association.
23.
Schön, D.A. (1983) The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action. New York: Basic Books.
24.
Shulman, L. (1993) Interactional Supervision. Washington, DC: NASW Press.
25.
Strauss, A. and Corbin, J. (1990) Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
26.
Strauss, A. and Corbin, J. (1998) 'Grounded Theory Methodology: An Overview', in N. K. Denzin and Y. S. Lincoln (eds) Strategies of Qualitative Inquiry, pp. 158-83. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
27.
Tam, C.K. (1998) 'The Influence of Chinese Social Relations on Personnel Management between the Supervisor and Supervisee in Social Welfare Organizations in Hong Kong', MA in Social Work Dissertation, Department of Applied Social Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
28.
Tsang, A.K.T. and George, U. (1998) 'Towards an Integrated Framework for Cross-cultural Social Work Practice', Canadian Social Work Review15(1): 73-93.
29.
Tsui, M.S. (2004) 'Charting the Course of Future Research on Supervision' , in M. J. Austin and K. M. Hopkins (eds) Supervision as Collaboration in the Human Services: Building a Learning Culture, pp. 272-80. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
30.
Tsui, M.S. (2005) Social Work Supervision: Contexts and Concepts . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
31.
Tsui, M.S. and Ho, W.S. (1997) 'In Search of a Comprehensive Model of Social Work Supervision', The Clinical Supervisor16(2): 181-205.
32.
Yuen, W.S. (1989) 'A Descriptive Study of the Supervision in Social Work of Hong Kong', unpublished M.Soc.Sc. Thesis, University of Hong Kong.
