Eliciting third person perspectives in social work case discussions: A device for reflective supervision?

Reflective supervision is widely recommended as an effective way to support social workers think about their practice and make better decisions. Although previous research has proposed methods of pursuing reflective supervision, little known how supervisors attempt this in actual meetings. One method for elicit third person perspectives so that can consider a situation from different points view. In article, we examine by analysing audio recordings 12 meetings one local authority Children Families Social Work team. Using Conversation Analysis (CA), explore supervisors’ attempts other people’s perspectives, focusing on such requests were formed the worker responded. We found 35 instances attempting identified four ways designed these enquiries. Supervisors oriented two concerns, based whether they enquired perspective was currently established or projected into future, information verifiable through speech actions, imagined person’s thoughts understanding. draw CA work epistemics stance show approaches have implications what expected know both speakers orient accountability worker. conclude considering epistemic friction between design enquiries, relevance professional possibilities practice.