History

The Latvian Association of Supervisors was established on the 17th of February in 2006 by like-minded people – social workers who had started their supervisory practice. The aim was to promote the development of supervision among the specialists of helping professions, to unite all supervisors practising in Latvia and to support the exchange of experience.   The Association was entered into the Register of Associations and Foundations with the name of “The Association of Supervisors” on the 7th of June in 2006.  In 2011 the association changed its name to „The Latvian Association of Supervisors”.

The most important achievements of the Latvian Association of Supervisors are the implementation of international cooperation projects, organizing of the workshops as well as development of legislative proposals.

Projects implemented

  • In 2010 – 2011 Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Latvia  and Programme for NGOs in Baltic countries financed the Project “Professional advice for clients with children” which was carried out in cooperation with the Swedish Family Therapy Association and the Association of Consultants “Hellanes” from Estonia; 5000 LS
  • In 2009 a mobility project supported by EU Lifelong Learning Programme Leonardo Da Vinci “3D (three dimensions – practice, education, development – supervision as a kind of professional education)” in cooperation with "The Family Therapists, Korsvagen"; 4000 EUR
  • From 2008 till 2010 the association „Latvian Association of Supervisors” participated in an EU Lifelong Learning Programme Grundtvig partnerships project “Counselling in multicultural Europe – key competence in lifelong learning” in cooperation with "The Association of National Organizations for Supervision in Europe"
  • Leonardo da Vinci Programme Preparatory Visit in Gothenburg, Sweden –618 EUR

Since 2006 we are a member of cooperation network of the Association of National Organizations for Supervision (ANSE) in Europe.

  • In 2012 - participation in the ANSE and DGSv Conference "Crossroads in Europe" in Berlin, Germany. Latvian Association of Supervisors become a full member of ANSE. Here you can find presentation of Latvian Association of Supervisors.
  • In 2011 - participation in the ANSE Summer University "Inspiring moments in supervision  - how to promote changes"  Stavanger, Norway
  • In 2009 – participation in the ANSE Meeting of presidents of National organizations in Vienna, Austria
  • In 2007 - participation in the ANSE Summer University "International and intercultural experience in supervision" in Tallinn, Estonia
  • In 2006 – participation in the ANSE General Meeting and conference in Kaunas, Lithuania

Training workshops carried out

  • 2011 Achim Fritzche (Germany) methodological training workshop „Sculpture workshop” about sculpture method in supervision, 25-28 February 2011
  • 2009 Workshop about different approaches of supervision "Variety of supervision", exchange of members' experience, 4 August 2009
  • 2009 Achim Fritzche (Germany) "How to mount a horse from the right side: Supervision is more than…" about the methods of supervision, 15-19 May 2009
  • 2007 Ilze Norman and Tony Norman (Sweden) "Supervision in social work: Swedish experience", 2-3 August 2007
  • Workshops for managers of social institutions  "Supervision in social work", 2006

Activities in the field of legislation

In close cooperation with the Ministry of Welfare of the Republic of Latvia and the Committee of Social Issues of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, the association has achieved:

  • The Law on the "Changes in Law on the Social Services and Social Assistance” (dated 25.05.2006) was supplemented with amendments, that municipalities were obligated to provide supervision for social service offices of municipalities and social work specialists working for social service providers established by the municipality (Section 9 Paragraph 6)
  • The term “supervision” is used in the Law to describe the concept of “consultative help”*
  • Regulations  No 291 issued by The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia (dated 03.06.2003) "Requirements for social service providers" have been supplemented by the paragraph 8.1 determining the minimum amount of supervisions to be provided yearly for the municipality social service: individual supervisions of at least nine hours or group supervisions of at least 18 hours. This facilitates the availability of supervision for social work specialists.

*Terminology

The Latvian Association of Supervisors has asked the Terminology Commission of the Latvian Academy of Sciences and the Translation and Terminology Centre to find a Latvian term for the word “supervīzija” (English – supervision). The solutions proposed - uzraudzība (Eng. Monitoring), pārraudzība (Eng. Surveillance), attīstības pārraudzība (kā supervīzija) (eng.monitoring of development (as supervision)), pārraugs (supervizors) (eng.the monitoring person (supervisor)) and pārraugāmais (supervizējamais) (Eng. The monitored person (supervisee). These words were regarded as inappropriate by the Association because they emphasize the inequality of relationships and status in the process of supervision. They also apply to the supervisor a role of overseer, which doesn't meet the modern practice of supervision and supervisor's tasks. Currently the Latvian Association of Supervisors uses such terms as “supervīzija” (eng.supervision), “supervizors” (Eng. Supervisor) and “supervizējamais” (Eng. Supervisee).