What Can I Expect From My Supervisor?

The Home-Based Supervisor’s Manual for the Head Start Home-Based Program Option includes detailed descriptions of the role of the home-based supervisor and strategies that supervisors can use to support the work you do with families. Familiarize yourself with the information in the Supervisor’s Manual so you can talk with your supervisor about the kind of support that would be most helpful to you.

The home-based supervisor has many roles and responsibilities in your program. As a mentor, he or she supports you in your work by doing the following:

Modeling—Your supervisor should be able to demonstrate the skills you are learning as a home visitor. He or she shows you how to have respectful, trusting relationships with others as you observe him or her interacting with families and staff members.

Teaching—Your supervisor shares his or her expertise about the Head Start program, child and family development, and home visiting as a strategy for delivering services. He or she teaches you in many different ways: discussion, reading assignments, in-service training, anecdotes, modeling, or formal instruction.

Planning—Your supervisor contributes to the design and continuous improvement of the home-based program. You share your experiences, successes, and challenges with your supervisor so he or she can use those experiences to inform planning and improve the program.

Leading—Your supervisor sets the tone for how you interact with families and with other staff members. He or she is responsible for team-building efforts that help you feel supported by a network of colleagues working together to realize the goals of the program. As a leader, your supervisor provides an example for how to negotiate the challenges of your job.

Advocating—Your supervisor advocates for you and for the needs of the families with whom you work. He or she is your support person—the one you can turn to when you are struggling. He or she works with the program leadership to advocate for the resources you need to work effectively with families.

Assessing—Your supervisor shares in the responsibility for the quality of the home-based services your agency provides. He or she assesses your job performance and supports you in your professional growth. Your supervisor plays a role in program self-assessment and monitoring to ensure that your home-based program offers high quality services.