Home	Job Roles	Areas of Employment	Qualifications	Pathways	Employers	Links	Glossary

Supervisory tasks and skills

The supervisor’s duties may include:

care and support
supervising the work and learning of others
assessing work in relation to qualifications
coordinating, implementing and supervising the delivery of care plans
supervising and assessing students
recording and report writing

Induction, Supervision and Learning

Even though you may be an experienced worker, you should receive induction when you first start a job at supervisor level to enable you to learn about:

your workplace and organisation
the tasks and skills of your job
specific knowledge and skills about the service you are employed in

You should also have supervision, mentoring and / or coaching from someone more experienced than you are and opportunities for on-going development. There should be opportunities to gain the qualifications for registration with SSSC (Scottish Social Services Council) if registration is required for your post. You should take some responsibility for your own learning and development.

Click here to view SSSC’s Induction Guidance

Click here to find out more about SSSC’s registration requirements

Click here for information about supervision, mentoring and coaching

Where next?

You may decide that you wish to stay at the level of supervisor and further develop your skills at this level. Click here if you wish to further develop your skills at supervisor level

Grant Houghton
Senior Social Care Officer (Supervisor)

My current place of work is a day centre for adults with Learning Disabilities, which is run by Angus Council Social Work and Health Department

What is your current job role?

My working days are very varied; there is not really a ‘typical’ day. However, there are activities and duties that happen most days. My main role is to coordinate the daily groups and activities. I have to make sure that individual programmes are being implemented and also to make sure that group activities are organised.
Another big part of my day concerns the management of a team of 13 people; supervision and appraisals take place regularly, and it takes a lot of time to do this well. I am also currently an SVQ assessor for one of the team, who is undertaking their SVQ 3.

I also liaise with other professionals, such as speech and language therapists physiotherapists and occupational therapists etc.

Most days the hours seem to fly by as there has been so much activity. I think that the small things I do are often the most important; ensuring a quality service provision, problem solving as well as making sure the staff team are motivated and well supported. They may seem like little things, but without this input the quality of service wouldn’t be so good.

What qualifications did you have when you applied for your post?

When I started as a day centre officer I had a National Certificate in Physical Education and Recreation, and then I undertook an SVQ 3 in Social Care through a work based learning route

Have you done any qualifications or since taking up your current post?

Recently I have undertaken my A1 assessor award, and I have completed an Open University course in Approaches to People with Profound and Complex Learning Disabilities.

I have also completed in house training in recruitment and selection and appraisal for managers as well as other management training.

I am currently undertaking another distance course in Understanding Management with the support of my employer

How did you get to where you are now?

I have been working with adults with learning disabilities for over 16 years. My first contact with this group came about when I was studying for a sports and recreation qualification, which including working with adults with learning disabilities. After completing my study, I worked in sports centre as a lifeguard and also registered as a volunteer with Angus council, social work and health.

Although I was more involved in sport at the start of my career, playing football at semi-professional level, I was increasingly interested in working with adults with complex and profound needs.

After that I got a part time job at my current place of work with adults, and then got a full time job supporting individuals with profound and complex needs.

What are your future plans and goals, and what is involved in attaining them?

I know that I want to continue working within the learning disabilities service. My current post is temporary, and my ideal short term future would be to secure a permanent seniors post and to undertake SVQ level 4 in care.

Please click on a question to show/hide its answer

If you wish to move to another level, click on one of the following for information about progressing to manager and/or professional posts.

Click here for information about becoming a manager

Click here for information about becoming a social worker, occupational therapist or other professional

<back