Testing group supervision in fieldwork training for social work students

This study monitors group supervision for students' field training in a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW) program and compares it with the experience of the students receiving the traditional individual supervision. The experimental group supervision model is implemented in two consecutive years. Students' experiences are compared at three points in time: before pilot study began; at the end of the 1st year of the pilot study; and at the end of the 2nd year. Findings indicate that in most areas, and at all points in time, students receiving group supervision do not differ from their colleagues in the traditional individual supervision group. However, students receiving group supervision are less satisfied at all points in time with various aspects of the supervision they receive. These findings generally broaden our understanding of group supervision in social work field training and provide evidence to support future decisions on the nature of supervision in fieldwork training in BSW programs.