Coaching, mentoring and consultation : the same but different activities in supervision of social workers in South Africa

Abstract

The interchangeable and uncritical use of concepts such as coaching, mentoring and consultation without theoretical substantiation may be regarded as a neoliberal tendency, resulting in misinterpretation and detrimental role confusion. This article seeks to address the similarities and/or differences in coaching, mentoring and consultation as supervision activities. The core determinants of each concept are examined with a view to conclude with a presentation of a South African context specific approach to social work supervision activities. The employment of the activities should be developmental in nature and holds that all the activities concerned are part of an overarching supervision process.