Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Supervision Found Wanting: Experiences of Health and Social Workers in Non-Government Organisations Working with Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Robinson, Kim (2013) Supervision Found Wanting: Experiences of Health and Social Workers in Non-Government Organisations Working with Refugees and Asylum Seekers. Practice: Social Work in Action, 25 (2). pp. 87-103. ISSN 0950-3153. (doi:10.1080/09503153.2013.775238) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:36397)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09503153.2013.775238

Abstract

This paper explores the role and function of supervision, a neglected topic in research on social work with refugees and asylum seekers. Using semi-structured interviews with health and social workers, supervision arrangements in non-government organisations (NGOs) in Australia and the UK are examined in the context of entitlement reductions and restricted access to services and support for service users. The comparative research highlights the demanding and ethically challenging nature of the work, and the impact on health and social workers of exposure to the narratives of refugees and asylum seekers subject to human rights abuses. Overall, there was found to be an inconsistent approach to supervision across the NGOs in the study, which failed to adequately address the demanding nature of the work. Where supervision was not provided, it placed the well-being of health and social workers at risk and reduced the effectiveness of their interventions. In conclusion, the paper develops an agenda for improving the support of health and social workers working with refugees and asylum seekers in NGOs in Australia and the UK. © 2013 Copyright British Association of Social Workers.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/09503153.2013.775238
Uncontrolled keywords: asylum seekers and refugees, human rights work, supervision
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Mita Mondal
Date Deposited: 14 Nov 2013 14:55 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:13 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/36397 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Robinson, Kim.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.