Social Work Supervision in a Digitalized World

Prof. PhDr. Ladislav Vaska PhD.; Katarína Čavojská PhD.

doi:10.5771/9783748968511

Summary

This volume offers the first comprehensive monographic analysis of online supervision in social work. Against the backdrop of ongoing digitalization, it examines how supervisory processes, relationships, and professional frameworks are transformed in digital and hybrid settings. Drawing on theoretical approaches and original empirical research, the book analyzes key ethical, relational, and methodological challenges of online supervision, its opportunities and limitations, and future development perspectives. A contribution from an international perspective adds a comparative dimension. The book is intended for researchers, supervisors, practitioners, and students in social work.
With contributions by Rusudan Asatiani | Filip Bambúch | Peter Brnula | Katarína Čavojská | Nona Chachanidze | Alžbeta Brozmanová Gregorová | Martina Hrozenská | Eva Mydlíková | Shorena Sadzaglishvili | Erik Šatara | Michaela Šavrnochová | Ladislav Vaska | Jana Budoš Vrťová This title is also available as Open Access.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2026
Copyright Year: 2026
ISBN-Print: 978-3-7560-3702-5
ISBN-Online: 978-3-7489-6851-1
Publisher: Nomos, Baden-Baden
Language: English
Pages: 286
Product Type: Edited Book

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1. INTRODUCTION
1. Authors:
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  1. From the Digitalization of Social Work to the Integration of Information and Communication Technologies in Social Work Supervision in Global Contexts
  2. The Process of Integrating Information and Communication Technologies into Supervision in Social Work
  3. Classification of Forms of Social Work Supervision Conducted through Information and Communication Technologies
  4. The Current State of the Issue in Slovakia
2. Authors:
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  1. Ethical Dimensions of the Research
  2. Research Quality and Trustworthiness
  3. Limitations of the Study
  4. Data Collection and Analysis
  5. Characteristics of Research Participants
1. Authors:
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  1. Distance and Online Supervision
  2. Theoretical Framework of Online Supervision
  3. Changes in the Experience of Supervision
  4. Beginning Supervisees
  5. Needs of Beginning Supervisee
  6. Main Research Findings
  7. Form of Supervision
  8. Technological and Practical Aspects of the Supervisory Session
  9. Relationship and Interaction Between Supervisor and Supervisee
  10. Content and Benefits of the Supervisory Session
  11. Emotional Disposition and Reflexivity
  12. Discussion
  13. Practical Recommendations for the Development of Distance and Hybrid Supervision
2. Authors:
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  1. Introduction
  2. Definition of the Supervisory Relationship
  3. Building the Supervisory Relationship in the Online Environment
  4. Prior (Non-)Experience, Personal Contact, and the Development of a Trust-Based Supervisory Relationship
  5. Building a Trusting Relationship and a Sense of Safety in Online Supervision: Technological, Contextual, and Ethical Framework
  6. The Role of the Supervisor in Building Trust and Creating a Safe Online Environment
  7. The Limitations of the Online Environment in Building the Supervisory Relationship
  8. Perceptions of the Limitations of Online Supervision – the Supervisees’ Perspective
  9. Limitations of Online Supervision from the Perspective of Supervisors
  10. Professional Competence of the Supervisor
  11. The Supervisor’s Approach as a Prerequisite for Building a Supervisory Relationship
  12. Discussion
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  1. Spatial Representation of Online Supervision
  2. Technical and Visual Aspects of Online Supervision
  3. The Emotional Aspect of Online Supervision
  4. Interaction and Dynamics of Supervision
  5. Distance and Incompleteness of the Relationship
  6. Administrative and Clinical Supervision in Visualisations of Online Supervision
  7. Functions of Supervision in Visualizations of Online Supervision
1. Authors:
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  1. Introduction
  2. Ethics in Supervision
  3. Ethical Issues in Supervision Conducted in the Online Environment
  4. Results and Discussion
  5. Trust and the Supervisory Relationship as a Core Ethical Principle of Online Supervision
  6. Security and Confidentiality in Online Supervision
  7. Responsibility in Online Supervision
  8. Competence
  9. Informed Consent and the Supervisory Contract
  10. Discussion
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  1. Introduction
  2. Perspectives of supervisors
  3. Technical Limitations
  4. Creative Limitations
  5. Communication and Nonverbal Aspects
  6. Temporal and Geographical Efficiency
  7. 1. 1. Confidentiality
    2. 2. Informed consent
    3. 3. Digital security
  8. Emotional Aspects
  9. Risk of Insufficient Focus
  10. Perspectives of supervisees
  11. The Supervisor’s Personality and Trust
  12. Technical Limitations
  13. Communication and Nonverbal Aspects
  14. Temporal and Geographical Efficiency
  15. Emotional Aspects
  16. Shared dimensions of the supervisory process
  17. Discussion
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  1. Introduction
  2. The Benefits of Supervision from the Supervisors’ Perspective
  3. The Benefits of Supervision from the Supervisees’ Perspective
  4. Comparative Analysis of The Benefits of Online Supervision from the Perspectives of Supervisors and Supervisees
  5. Discussion
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  1. Introduction
  2. Technical Barriers and Their Consequences
  3. Loss of Personal Contact and Nonverbal Communication
  4. Challenges in Maintaining Professional Boundaries
  5. Health and Psychological Consequences
  6. Ethical Issues and Security
  7. 1. 1 . Concerns and Internal Barriers
  8. Uncertainty in the Online Environment
  9. Fear of the Unknown
  10. Fear of Losing Personal Contact
  11. Discomfort in the Online Space
  12. Resistance from Supervisees
  13. 1. 2. Technical Barriers
  14. Lack of Technical Skills among Supervisees and Supervisors
  15. Technical Limitations – Internet Connection
  16. Lack of Access to Equipment
  17. Disruptive External Factors
  18. Language Barrier
  19. 1. 3. Limitations of Expressivity and Creativity
  20. Limited Use of Physical Aids
  21. 1. 4. Limitations in Perceiving Nonverbal Communication
  22. Limited Perception of the Whole Body
  23. Loss of Micro-Signals
  24. 1. 5. Trust, Intimacy, and Safety
  25. Loss of Trust and Intimacy
  26. Reduced Sense of Safety
  27. 1. 6. Limitations Resulting from the Loss of Physical Contact
  28. Weakened Emotional Connection
  29. Lack of Physical Closeness as a Factor in Understanding
  30. Limited Expression of Feelings
  31. Reduced Informal Relationships
  32. 1. 7. Limitations of Group Supervision
  33. 1. 8. Limitations of the Supervisory Process
  34. Difficulty in Attuning to Supervision
  35. Limited Perception of Context and the Use of Silence in Online Supervision
  36. Increased Directiveness, Formal Structure, and Pressure for Results in Online Supervision
  37. Easier Loss of Attention
  38. Time Constraints
  39. Reduced Perceived Importance of Online Supervision
  40. Mental Absence of Supervisees
  41. Faster Dissipation of Emotions
  42. 1. 9. Limitations in Building the Supervisory Relationship
  43. Interconnection Between Categories of Online Supervision Limitations
  44. Discussion
3. Authors:
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  1. 1. a) Development and Normalization of Online Supervision
    2. b) Standardization and Ethics
    3. c) Technical and Spatial Prerequisites
    4. d) Suitability in Relation to the Type and Goal of Supervision
    5. e) Hybrid Models and Process Design
    6. f) Public Awareness and Expectation Management
    7. g) Accessibility and Capacity
    8. h) Risks to Quality and Formalization
    9. i) Digitalization of Processes and Emerging Technologies
    10. a) Historical Context of the Development and Normalization of Online Supervision
    11. 1. c) Intervening Factors
    12. d) Strategies
    13. e) Consequences
  2. The Future of Online Supervision: Key Findings and Implications for Practice
1. Authors:
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  1. Introduction
  2. Professional Supervision in Social Work: Core Functions
  3. Experience in Georgia
  4. Professional Supervision in the National Agency for Crime Prevention, Non-Custodial Sentences and Probation
  5. Professional Supervision in the LEPL Agency for State Care and Assistance to (Statutory) Victims of Human Trafficking
  6. Professional Supervision in the Office of Resource Officers of Educational Institutions
  7. Research Methodology
  8. 1. 1. Main Supervisory Practices
    2. 2. Consistency of Supervision Practices
    3. 3. Legislative and Policy Frameworks
    4. 4. Challenges in the Supervisory Process
    5. 5. Strategies to Address Supervision Challenges
    6. 6. Challenges of Online Supervision
  9. Discussion
  10. Conclusion
CONCLUSIONPages 279 - 282 Download chapter (PDF)
EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORSPages 283 - 286 Download chapter (PDF)