Safe uncertainty

This knowledge briefing is written specifically for managers of practice supervisors and was first published as part of The Practice Supervisor Development Programme. The concept of safe uncertainty is widely used in systemic practice. This visual tool helps practitioners critically analyse their work with families and explore what factors may be influencing their perceptions of risk (and how much uncertainty we can tolerate).

This visual tool helps practitioners critically analyse their work with families and explore what factors may be influencing their perceptions of risk (and how much uncertainty we can tolerate). It can helpfully be used in supervision to aid critical reflection. Ideas around the concept of ‘risk’ and ‘certainty’ are discussed, and the theoretical concept of safe uncertainty explained. There are then a series of reflective questions to help practice supervisors consider how they can support social workers to assess risk within their work and in supervision discussions.