A typology of supervision in child welfare: Multilevel latent class and confirmatory analyses of caseworker-supervisor relationship type

Based on survey data collected from 1460 public- and private-agency child welfare caseworkers in Illinois, this study examines the nature of child welfare supervisory relationships by empirically identifying a discrete set of modal caseworker-supervisor relationship types as defined by a combination of positive and negative supervisory support. This study also examines the degree to which differences in the nature of caseworker-supervisor relationships are attributable, respectively, to supervisors, supervisor-caseworker dyads, and agency settings. Results suggest the existence of qualitatively distinct caseworker-supervisor relationship types that coalesce into discrete mixtures of relationship types at the supervisory team level. In contrast, results suggest that little, if any, of the overall variability in supervisory relationship type is attributable to the agency level. Findings concerning the interrelationships among relationship type and caseworkers' job satisfaction and perceptions of their work environment underscore the salience of individual caseworker-supervisor dyads, and suggest the importance of relationship building as means to improve the effectiveness of supervision.