The role of the supervisor in training social workers treating HIV infected persons in a hospital

The role of social workers working with HIV infected persons in hospitals is complex and laden with sources of professional stress, including those related to the hospital framework and environment and personal stress related to patients, their families, and the workers themselves. The paper identifies these factors of stress and discusses the functions of the supervision in avoiding or reducing them. The article is based on experience in Israel, but the analysis may be applicable elsewhere, as well.