Purpose: To learn the fundamentals of creating a supportive environment for supervising specialists, developing leadership skills, retaining employees and facilitating learning to enhance practice.
Day 1—Essential Management Skills
Competency
Participants will create a development plan for their three roles as a DHS Child Welfare supervisor.
Practice Behaviors
- Compare supervisory strengths from Strengths Finder Instrument with the three supervisor roles of an effective DHS Child Welfare supervisor.
- Develop approaches to support developmental needs in order to improve performance.
- Apply mentoring guidelines to meet the needs of new specialists.
- Identify signs of stress, burnout and secondary trauma in specialists.
- Develop a plan for a supportive climate on the team.
Day 2—Retention
Competency
Participants will be able to successfully select and retain specialists for their units.
Practice Behaviors
- Identify essential tasks and KSAs of entry level staff.
- Consider candidates based on good cultural fit.
- Select strategies to create a supportive climate on the team.
- Develop a plan to retain staff based on evidence-based practices.
- Conduct stay interviews with the goal of retaining staff.
Day 3—Influential Leadership
Competency
Participants will be able to apply different leadership styles in situationally appropriate contexts.
Practice Behaviors
- Identify their preferences in leadership styles.
- Practice different leadership styles in different situations.
Competency
Participants will be able to effectively lead teams.
Practice Behaviors
- Diagnose unhealthy team functions and determine a correction path.
- De-escalate conflict situations and negotiate an agreement.