The seven-eyed model
This widely used model developed over 35 years (Hawkins and McMahon, 2020) covers various modes that may be used in one-to-one supervision and supports enhanced relational practice.
These modes are combined with the draft standards for the NQSW supported year to make an at-a-glance way of ensuring supervision is comprehensive and relevant. This is covered further including the application of the Standards in Social Work Education ethics and using a case vignette in the suggested training session outlined for supervisors that are included on our website.
It is not necessarily intended that these modes are all used in each session, but it allows supervisors to monitor that supervision is holistic. For example, in the literature mentioned above, modes two and six of focusing on the NQSW’s strategies and interventions and the supervisor offering support and advice, may tend to dominate in a casework approach.
The following modes and linked NQSW characteristics will help prompt the conversations and approaches needed to help the NQSW to meet supported year practice expectations, ensuring a real focus on the person we work with and keep attention to the wellbeing of the NQSW.
Supervision focus and NQSW characteristics |
1: Focus on the people using services and what and how they present |
NQSW characteristics: |
Critical thinking, professional judgement and decision making |
Communication, engagement and relationship-based professional practice |
2: Focus on the NQSW’s strategies and interventions |
NQSW characteristics: |
Promoting wellbeing, support and protection |
Use of knowledge, research and evidence in practice |
3: Focus on the relationship between the NQSW and people using services |
NQSW characteristics: |
Communication, engagement and relationship-based professional practice |
Working with complexity in unpredictable and ambiguous contexts |
4: Focus on the NQSW’s skills and wellbeing in relation to their role |
NQSW characteristics: |
Self-awareness and reflexivity |
Critical thinking, professional judgement and decision making |
5: Focus on the supervisory relationship |
NQSW characteristics: |
Use of knowledge, research and evidence in practice |
Self-awareness and reflexivity |
6: Focus on the supervisor offering support from their own experience |
NQSW characteristics: |
Working with complexity in unpredictable and ambiguous contexts |
Promoting wellbeing, support and protection |
7: Focus on the wider contexts in which the work happens |
NQSW characteristics: |
Professional leadership |
Ethics, values and rights-based practice |
More about the model
This model gives us a potential model to use as part of negotiating supervision in the context of evolving practice and policies. Using such a model could help us nudge supervision away from a case management focus that is too narrow and incorporate person-centred behaviours in line with national policy initiatives.
One such initiative is ‘The Promise’ implementation plan following the Independent Care Review which has been widely adopted across government agencies. The workforce plan centralises the importance of supervision.
‘things that matter to children, including how loved they feel, how their rights are upheld and how stigma is being reduced. This must emphasise support for the worker and their relationship with the child over-evaluation of performance‘.
The Promise, Scotland
Another organisation holding services accountable to policy intentions is Inclusion Scotland, the national disabled people’s organisation whose motto is “nothing about us without us”. This directly relates to the use of the model to bring the people who use services into the supervision process. They emphasise the vision requires a supported workforce.
‘people working in social work and social care support [should be] respected, valued and rewarded for the work they do. They feel and are empowered in their roles‘
Inclusion Scotland
The seven-eyed model explicitly prompts a focus on the wider issues including embodying professional values at mode seven. This is central to the BASW Code of Ethics.
‘Human rights and social justice serve as the motivation and justification for social work action. In solidarity with those who are disadvantaged, the profession strives to alleviate poverty and to work with vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social inclusion‘.
BASW
The six ethical principles of the Standards in Social Work Education in Scotland are cross-referenced to this model. NQSWs will be familiar working with those throughout their training and they continue to support the journey through the NQSW supported year and beyond. They echo much of the above and are expressed as:
- Social justice and equality
- Respecting diversity
- Human rights and dignity
- Self-determination
- Partnership, participation and co-production
- Honesty and integrity
Reflective questions
- Think about how you ensure the views of people who use services are central in your practice. What else could you do?