Hi, I’m Kerri Hurman
I’ve been a social worker for over twenty five years. I can still remember fumbling my way through my practice at the very beginning, learning what not to do more often than what to do. There was no intentional reflection, just a desire to help and try to get through the week alive and well. We had no such thing as supervision. Back then I didn't think of what I did as “my practice”, social work was my job. I was so naive and yes, arrogant, thinking that just having the qualification meant I was good at my role. The real learning STARTS when you begin to practice and it takes much more reflection and critical analysis of yourself and your interactions with others than any classroom assignments. I wish I'd had someone to do that with, or guide me into who I wanted to be and what type of practitioner when I was just starting out. Nowadays it's second nature to reflect on what I'm doing, how well, how I can improve and how the power a social worker has can impact positively or negatively on the clients we work with. I became a supervisor nearly twenty years ago to help others ensure that they stay ethical and responsible within their work and help them to help others without harming themselves
Origin
This logo and the naming of my company is the story of two cultures melding yet distinct and has a lot of symbolism for me. Canadian meets Kiwi. I very firmly identify as both. One through birth and one through choice.
The bird is a stylised Canadian Goose which is iconic but it also reminds me of the kererū, which I love. Both are striking, and you always know when they are around!
Manitouana is the traditional name for the 1000 Islands, an amazing area of Canada where I grew up. It translates into “the Garden of the Great Spirit”, and a place Manitou created for the peace and prosperity of his people.
The subtle design behind is reminiscent of a stylised koru. The koru, which is often used in Māori art as a symbol of creation, is based on the shape of an unfurling fern frond. Its circular shape conveys the idea of perpetual movement, and its inward coil suggests a return to the point of origin. The koru therefore symbolises the way in which life both changes and stays the same.
The whole design is about taking what’s inside yourself and using it to grow, solidify and improve.
My Approach
My social work and my supervision practices are very eclectic. There’s no such thing as using only one model or theory because people and situations are not all the same. There are so many tools that can be used and nuances in interactions that call for different approaches each time. Sometimes multiple approaches all within the same session.
My focus when working with supervisees is encouraging them to explore their practice in a non-judgemental space. So much of what we do as social workers is done in the moment and we often don’t have the time to unpack “why” we chose to do it that way, or explore what impacts on us, or how we impact on others.
I believe that my role as a supervisor is to be the sounding board for what people face in their work, a devil’s advocate for encouraging reflection, a guide for someone trying to make sense of difficult work and a cheering section for continual improvement.
My role is to listen, challenge, support and assist you in deciding how to be the best practitioner that you can be.