The First Conference on Supervision in Republika Srpska (RS) titled “The Importance of Supervision for Improving the Quality of Work in Social and Child Protection” was held in Banja Luka, where 23 newly trained supervisors in psychosocial work were officially promoted and awarded certificates.
The conference was organized within the project “Implementation of Supervision in the Social Protection System of RS through Support for the Development of Supervisory Education and Practice,” implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska, the Association of Supervisors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Faculty of Political Sciences in Banja Luka, with the support of UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“During the pandemic and similar crises, it became clear just how vulnerable, yet also resilient, the people in our social protection institutions are. However, facing human suffering and pain is the most difficult part of your professional work—even under normal circumstances—which is why there remains a constant and growing need for supervisory support,” said Alen Šeranić, Minister of Health and Social Welfare of RS, during the opening of the conference, and called for strengthening supervision further:
“Let us use the time ahead to empower one another and continue to work together on strengthening supervisory capacities. The measure of our success should be the well-being of service users. I urge the directors of social protection institutions to continue recognizing supervision as an opportunity to improve the functioning of their institutions, increase worker satisfaction, and enhance the quality of services for beneficiaries.”
UNICEF Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina Marc Lucet emphasized that supervision provides crucial support to social workers who face complex challenges every day, helps maintain professional standards, improves decision-making processes, and ultimately leads to better outcomes for children and families:
“The evidence is clear—when we ensure adequate supervision for frontline workers, the entire child protection system becomes more effective. By investing in supervisory capacities, we are investing in sustainable systems that protect the most vulnerable children.”
He added that this initiative, which is part of the partnership between UNICEF and the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina under the action “Strengthening the Social and Child Protection System and Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina to Provide Inclusive Services and Prevent the Institutionalization of Children,” directly contributes to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child:
“Effective implementation of the Strategy for Social and Child Protection, as well as the Roadmap for Deinstitutionalization of Children, is essential—not only for protecting the rights and well-being of vulnerable children, but also because it represents a strong investment in human capital and workforce development within the social protection system. All of this contributes to a more just and sustainable society. I believe the step we are taking today by promoting these 23 supervisors is very important for the Strategy’s implementation.”
“I am pleased to be part of today’s high-level conference on social and child protection. Social protection is about dignity, inclusion, and opportunity for every citizen. The European Union is proud to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in strengthening these systems, helping vulnerable groups, and building a fairer society for all. Together with partners like UNICEF, we are investing in reforms and laying the groundwork for a more just and prosperous society that reflects EU values,” said Biljana Barović, Acting Head of the EU Office in Banja Luka.
Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences in Banja Luka, Ranka Perić Romić, emphasized the broader social importance of supervision:
“We always ask the question: If social workers provide help and services to beneficiaries, who provides support to them? In this sense, the introduction of supervision into the social protection system is of general interest to society as a whole, and especially to service users. Plans are already in place to establish a Master’s program in ‘Supervision in Social Work’ by 2026, which will elevate what was started with this project to the academic level.”
“I have the privilege of being part of something that is not just education for supervision or a project activity, but something that represents the beginning of a genuine reform in the social protection system. You must be able to take care of yourself in order to have the capacity to support others. Through supervision, the child protection system has gained something it can offer others—a structured and safe space for dialogue and the development of cross-sectoral cooperation focused on the best interests of the child,” said Andrea Puhalić, President of the Association of Supervisors in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Article Credit: unicef