Supervision
What are the aims of Supervision?
Supervision aims to:
Support, Develop & Monitor
My function as supervisor is to:
- Encourage “the autonomy of the practitioner within safe boundaries”
- Provide a relationship and process that will enable the practitioner to develop their own way of working effectively with clients
Why do we need supervision?
- A protective mechanism against burnout and stress
- Enhances competence and skills development
- Safeguards the welfare of clients by monitoring ethical and professional practice
- Enhances self awareness in the supervisee and develops the 'internal supervisor'
What are the responsibilities of supervision?
Both supervisor and supervisee carry responsibilities in supervision. Individual responsibilities are explained below:-
As supervisee, I take responsibility for:
- identifying practice issues with which I need help and asking for time to deal with these
- becoming increasingly able to share these issues freely
- identifying and communicating the kind of response which is useful for me
- becoming more aware of my own organisational contracts and their implications
- being open to others' feedback
- developing the ability to discriminate what feedback is useful
- noticing when I justify, explain or defend before listening to feedback.
- noticing, seeking feedback and reflecting on the way I compete or advise in the group
As supervisor I take responsibility for
- fostering a climate of mutual respect, empathic understanding and honesty
- encouraging mutual support of each other and renewing ideas and ideals
- ensuring enough space for each of us to present clients and issues in our own way; and monitoring that the time is used equitably
- giving clear feedback, and where asked for, or where I judge it be be appropriate, giving advice or information and sharing my experience.
- challenging practice I judge to be unethical, unwise or incompetent
- being aware of the organizational contracts we are in
- ensuring regular reviews of the work of the group and the development of us as individuals
- supporting our development as peer supervisors
How do I prepare for supervision?
When getting ready for supervision, it can be useful to reflect on the following questions:-
- Are there any crisis/emergency issues you need to talk about?
- Are there any themes emerging for you in your overall work with clients you would like to review in supervision?
- Are there any organisational/training areas you want to talk about in supervision?
- What do you want from this session of supervision? For yourself, your clients, your learning?
- Are there any areas of the supervisory contract you want to review/renegotiate?
I offer
- Individual supervision to practising counsellors, working both in private practice and within organisations
- Also supervision of trainee counsellors on Counselling Diploma courses
- Group and individual supervision to voluntary organizations in the mental health field and general work practice