Managing Social Service Staff for Excellence (PDF)

An essential guide for those charged with supervision ofnonclinical staffin programs, agencies, and units within socialservice organizations

"As someone who has worked in social service agencies, consultedwith hundreds of them, and who teaches social serviceprofessionals, Ms. Summers knows the issues faced by agenciesfirsthand. From this experience she has compiled a thoughtful andwell-organized text that identifies the principles of effectivesupervision."
--Samuel Knapp, EdD Director of Professional Affairs,Pennsylvania Psychological Association

From the Foreword

The care of patients and clients of social service agencies isincreasingly being performed by paraprofessionals or professionalswith little experience. While there are many books written aboutgiving quality clinical supervision, there is very little onsupervising the least experienced frontline nonclinical andclinical staff to teach and promote positive and effectiveinteraction with clients, and provide staff support and trainingthat elevates quality care, improves job satisfaction, andminimizes staff turnover.

Based on author Nancy Summers' many years of working withtroubled social service agencies, Managing Social Service Stafffor Excellence: Five Keys to Exceptional Supervision fills thisneed and offers numerous ideas for securing the best care for thoseserved by social service agencies.

Common problems faced by agencies are examined with regard toemployee behavior and wellness, including staff teamwork, how tobuild healthy staff/client relationships, and the identificationand prevention of routine disrespect of clients and their needs.Diagnostic techniques are presented for identifying these problems,as well as remedies and prevention programs that can be put inplace without great expense.

Filled with interviews and numerous case examples, ManagingSocial Service Staff for Excellence offers a step-by-stepprocess for: creating good preventive measures to counteractnegative practices that can occur; developing robust commitment andenthusiasm; and getting back on the right track after unfortunateincidents have taken place.