Professional Supervision

For the past 20 years or so, the concept of supervision in the helping professions has been under scrutiny. The field of supervision has consequently been reviewed and revised to determine consistent philosophies across the board, and to explain exactly what is meant by supervision and what its central values and aims are. The defining philosophies for the practice of supervision are to be found in the Standards for Supervision and the Curriculum Guide for Counselling Supervision.

Before considering supervision, it is important to understand certain terms. A practitioner is used to refer to someone who provides counselling or psychotherapy-related services. A practitioner also includes anyone taking on the role of counsellor, psychotherapist, trainer, educator or supervisor.

The term “client” is a term referring to the recipient of any services. The client may be an individual, family, group or couple. Different terms may be used for the client and the practitioner in different contexts.

Professional supervision for psychologists and counsellors involves (for want of a better word), debriefing.

• It's a formal arrangement for professionals to work regularly with someone who is experienced in counselling and supervision.

• It is a process to maintain adequate standards of professionalism and a method of consultancy to widen the horizons of an experienced practitioner.

• It provides a means of passing on skills, attitudes and knowledge to newer members of a profession.

• It ensures that clients receive adequate support whilst a trainee is training.

The supervisor’s task is to work together with the supervisee to ensure and develop the efficiency of the supervisee/client relationship. The method by which this takes place is one where the supervisor overseas the supervisee through critically observing and monitoring the supervisees actions and behaviour. The supervisor offers critically constructive feedback and guidance throughout this process.

In brief, a supervisor’s role is to ensure accountability, conduct training, and offer professional support.

There are 7 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction to Professional Supervision
   • Introduction
   • Nature and scope of counselling
   • Defining supervision
   • Benefits of being supervised
   • Personal moral qualities of a counsellor
   • Case study
   • Your strengths and weaknesses
   • SWOT analysis
   • Qualities of a professional supervisor
   • Case study
2. Models of Supervision
   • Beginning the super vision process
   • Contracts
   • Models of supervision
   • Mentoring
   • Proctors interactive model of supervision
   • Use of reflection in the theoretical framework
   • Forms of supervision: individual, group, self, agency
   • Reporting and record keeping
   • PBL: Create and present a plan with specific strategies for improving the supervision of employee’s work related skills, attitudes, and knowledge in the workplace, based on a clear understanding of the person’s needs, values, and situation.
3. Professionalism, Ethics, and Legal Concerns
   • Introduction and ethical codes
   • Supervisor professional standards
   • Ethical decisions
   • Responsibilities of supervisors to other professionals
   • Confidentiality
   • Informed consent
   • Multicultural counselling
   • Dual relationships
   • Professional boundaries
   • Complaints
   • Professional misconduct
   • Bringing the profession into disrepute
   • Sanctions
4. Different Approaches to Supervision
   • Relavent theories or models
   • Developmental models
   • The Professional Development Model (PDM)
   • Discrimination model
   • Issues in supervision
   • What is burnout
   • What causes burnout
   • Is stress the same as burn out
   • Online counselling and supervision
   • Telephone counselling
   • E mail or online counselling
   • How does online supervision work
   • International perspectives on counselling supervision
5. Supervision for Different Professions
   • Introduction
   • What to look for in an effective supervisor
   • Foundations of supervision
   • Supervision policy statement
   • Case study: Supervision in social work
   • Case study: supervision in occupational health nursing
   • Case study: supervision in the coaching profession
   • Case study: supervision for child safety
   • Case study: supervision in youth work
6. Organisational Considerations
   • Introduction
   • Self governance, awareness and supervision
   • Defining requirements
   • Organisational dynamics
   • Team dynamics
   • Supervision and outside contractors
   • Benefits of supervision in an organisation
   • Education
7. Managing Supervision
   • Issues in managing thew process
   • Frequency and duration of supervision
   • Finance
   • Other elements
   • Motivating factors
   • Transference and counter transference
   • Power abuse
   • Selection of supervisors and supervision
   • Standardised and open methods of supervision

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

For more information on this course, please request your free course information pack.