Supervision in ecological context: The relationship between the quality of supervision and the work and treatment environment

The present study measured the interaction between the work and treatment environments and social work supervision in public welfare agencies in Israel. Moos’ scales for measuring work and treatment environments, and Munson’s instrument for measuring worker’s evaluation of supervision were culturally adjusted and then used. Supervisory variables such as the worker’s professional development and the supervisor’s administrative skills were positively correlated with work environment variables such as task orientation, independence, and involvement, and with treatment environment variables such as autonomy, spontaneity, and clarity of rules. De-emphasis on written accounting was positively correlated with clients’ spontaneity and innovation. Supervisors’ unrealistic expectations of the supervisees were negatively correlated with clients’ free expression of frustration and aggression. Initial conclusions and practice implications are drawn from this study. However, further research is needed in order to address the direction of the relationships found here.