Garibija: We are introducing supervision for professional workers in social welfare institutions

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Sarajevo Canton is introducing supervision for professional workers in social welfare institutions who are in contact with beneficiaries. Supervisors will guide the work of professional workers, help them improve the quality of their work, and support them in order to reduce cases of professional burnout, which is a common occurrence due to the specific and difficult circumstances they encounter daily in their work. Minister in charge Malik Garibija emphasizes that the ultimate goal is a better and more professional service for the end user.

"In developed countries, work in the field of social welfare is unimaginable without supervision; here, unfortunately, it has so far been a rare and sporadic occurrence. We have also adopted the Rulebook on the implementation of supervision in social welfare institutions in the Sarajevo Canton, which prescribes the method of work for supervisors, and all institutions are obliged to conduct at least 18 hours of group supervision for each professional worker in contact with beneficiaries during one year. In the Budget for 2020, we secured an additional 100,000 KM for engaging supervisors in public social welfare institutions," states Minister Garibija.

Supervisors are independent experts with many years of experience who, through individual or group work, help professional workers find the causes of difficulties and problems in working with beneficiaries and in mutual work, overcome obstacles in the development of professional workers, and contribute to improving the behavior and professional roles of professional workers, all with a focus on action and results.

"Social welfare institutions will submit annual supervision plans along with work plans, and supervisors can only be persons certified by the Ministry. Some of the conditions that supervisors must meet include possessing a certificate of education in the field of supervision, a higher education degree in the field of social work, pedagogy, psychology, defectology, andragogy, etc., and at least five years of professional work experience.

Supervision is not a job position but a professional service, and due to impartiality in work, a person who is an employee of that institution cannot be engaged as a supervisor. All conditions are prescribed with the ultimate goal of supporting employees and improving the quality of work and service for beneficiaries," concludes Minister Garibija.