Oldal 179 [179]
SUPERVISION EXPERIENCE AND EXPECIATION
OF CHILD PROTECTION WORKERS IN ESTONIAN
MUNICIPALITIES
——o—
TIINA MERKULJEVA
ABSTRACT
This survey is one part of a bigger project — Implementation of child protection
workers supervision practice in Estonian context. The first step in this project
is to analyze the context of Estonia and the current situation related with
supervision in child protection. The purpose of this study is to answer one
question: What are the current supervision experiences and expectations of
child protection workers in 15 Estonian municipalities? This survey is focused
on external supervision — that means supervision by an independent supervisor
outside of the organization and not taking a monitoring function on the work
of the supervisees, and explores the experience and expectations of child
protection workers in the following types of supervision: individual, group, team,
network and organizational supervision. The study revealed the benefits of
experienced supervision, suggestions to the future and topics of the supervision
important for respondence. The most common suggestions to improve the
efficiency of supervision was pointed out: supervision should be regular and
more structured; in addition to group supervision an individual one is also
needed; and supervision should be obligatory for professional development.
INTRODUCTION
Changes in Estonian society have brought forth serious welfare problems
concerning children and families, especially higher rates of child neglect.
The past 20 years of child protection in Estonia has shown that dealing with
the consequences is not sustainable. The new Child Protection law came into
force in 2016 and pays great attention to preventive approach, evidence based
practise and child protection workers professionalism and professional support.
According to the new law, the government is obliged to arrange for the constant
support and supervision of child protection workers to ensure professionalism.