This case study examines Germany's approach to supervision of the social work workforce and identifies practices that can inform the development of supervision systems in Ukraine. The publication describes supervision as an independent professional discipline centred on reflective practice, professional development, emotional support, and quality assurance rather than administrative oversight. It explains how supervision is embedded in organisational policies and professional norms despite the absence of statutory regulation, highlighting the role of the German Association for Supervision and Coaching (DGSv), voluntary certification, specialised supervisor training, and the widespread use of external supervisors. The document reviews supervisor recruitment standards, competency frameworks, organisational arrangements, and professional development requirements, while discussing strengths and implementation challenges such as variable standards, resource constraints, and inconsistent supervisor competence. Drawing on experiences from Germany, the United Kingdom and Scotland, the brief concludes with practical recommendations for Ukraine, including establishing a national supervision framework, investing in supervisor training, introducing reflective supervision models, integrating supervision with continuous professional development, and strengthening monitoring and digital systems.
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