The New Norm
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) help shape the future of our profession. LCSWs guide Associate Social Workers (ASWs) by providing supervision and offering support. It is our job to create a stronger and more well-rounded workforce. Here is how we can make our profession better for the next generation:
Expand Experiences
After graduating, ASWs start working in community mental health agencies (MHAs) because the system needs more clinicians. This often limits their ability to learn about different ways to work and meet new people. LCSWs who provide supervision outside these agencies let ASWs explore different settings, like private practice, healthcare, non-profits, and schools.
Supervision helps ASWs see things from different perspectives and allows them to focus on what they care about. By offering different kinds of supervision, LCSWs can help ASWs find an area of social work they feel passionate about.
Build a Flexible Workforce
When LCSWs supervise ASWs outside of typical settings, they help build a more flexible workforce. Mental health care, healthcare, and social services are all connected. Having a variety of experiences helps ASWs oversee these complex systems.
For example, an ASW who has worked in both a community mental health setting and a medical or school setting can move easily between fields and bring new practices into their work.
Encourage Retention
Burnout is a big problem in our field. ASWs face tough challenges when they start their careers in traditional MHAs. By offering chances to work outside the usual agencies, LCSWs can help prevent burnout and encourage ASWs to stay in their jobs.
When ASWs try different roles and get supervision from experienced LCSWs, they feel more fulfilled in their careers. This helps reduce turnover.
Foster Community
One big benefit of LCSWs providing supervision in different settings is that they help build a stronger community. Social workers work alone in their agencies, making it harder to connect with others. When LCSWs offer supervision in different settings, they help create a more collaborative environment.
Collaboration allows ASWs to share their experiences, learn from peers, and see how social work can help communities in different ways. LCSWs who supervise from different spaces can share their best ideas, encourage new ways of working, and promote teamwork with other fields like healthcare, education, and law enforcement.
This helps social work grow stronger and more effective at solving tough social issues.
Meet the Growing Need
Oregon and Washington need more social workers to manage the ongoing mental health crisis. As our communities’ deal with more mental health challenges, the need for well-trained social workers keeps growing.
By supervising ASWs outside of traditional MHAs, LCSWs help build a stronger group of professionals who can meet needs across different fields.
This model can help social workers stay in the field longer, prevent burnout, and make sure clients keep getting the help they need.