Managing unregulated contact in the age of new technology: Possible solutions

Unregulated contact between young people in care and their birth parents or extended family is often regarded as a risk-­‐laden area of social work. This article discusses the concept of contact and reviews some current perceptions of mobile technologies and social media. It considers why unregulated contact is pursued by young people in care and highlights the significance of theoretical ideas on adolescent brain development and insecure attachment. The article argues for the adoption of a different mindset by social work practitioners in terms of understanding mobile technologies and social media, and of how the risks associated with it should be assessed. A set of solutions is posited to help practitioners deal with this ever challenging phenomenon

Supervisory alliance: Key to positive alliances and outcomes in home-based parenting support?

Objectives: This study investigated whether the supervisory alliance between professionals and supervisors contributes to strong client-professional alliances and positive outcomes of home-based parenting support provided by youth care organizations. Methods: Multi-informant self-report supervisory alliance, alliance, and outcome data from 124 parents (M age = 39.83 years, SD = 6.98), professionals (n = 84, M age = 43.66 years, SD = 10.46), and supervisors (n = 26, M age = 47.18 years, SD = 8.28) collected early and late in care were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: A stronger professional-reported supervisory alliance was related to a stronger professional-reported alliance early in care (beta = 0.27, p < 0.01), and predicted higher levels of parent-reported satisfaction with care (beta = 0.19, p < .05; beta = 0.25, p < 0.01), and professional-reported satisfaction with care (beta = 0.21, p < 0.01). A stronger supervisory alliance reported by supervisors predicted parent-reported improvement in parent functioning (beta = 0.26, p < 0.05), and higher levels of professional-reported satisfaction with care (beta = 0.19, p < 0.05; beta = .14, p < 0.05). Finally, effects of professional-reported supervisory alliance on professional-reported satisfaction with care were mediated through higher levels of professional-reported alliance (beta = 0.06, p < 0.05; beta = .07, p < 0.05). Conclusions: A strong supervisory alliance may relate to strong alliances and positive outcomes of home-based parenting support. Future research needs to identify factors that contribute to strong supervisory alliances and explain linkages between the supervisory alliance, the alliance, and outcomes