Appreciative Inquiry and Solution Focused Supervision

Level: Advanced Practice – Supervisor, Manager

Credits: 6

Intended Audience: This Course is intended for Supervisors and Managers

Description of Course: This Course is designed to introduce Supervisors and Managers to the tools available in Appreciative Inquiry that can help Social Workers find the best practices in their work and to model Solution Focused Interviewing for their staff. This, in turn, can help the workforce find the resources within themselves to build hope and confidence in improving practice in Child Welfare Services. It will include a mix of presentation, small group exercises, and individual reflection.

Intended Objectives:

• Experience and practice a typical Appreciative Inquiry interview
• Describe the contrast between a “problem solving” assessment and a “appreciative inquiry” assessment
• Explain how Solution Focused Supervision can instill trust, hope, and vision in a workforce
• Describe how the climate of the workplace can impact the health and wellbeing of staff and improve outcomes for youth in foster care
• List three factors that contribute to individual and organizational resilience
• Describe Appreciative Inquiry and its role in organizational change

Topics Include:

• Research on Organizational Climate and outcomes for Children’s Services
• Research on Behavior Change and Organizational Change
• Challenges Supervisors face in creating a positive climate
• What works? Here and in other organizations
• Five Categories of Solution Focused Interviewing