Clinical supervision policy - AFT

AFT
Supervision
Policy and Practice Guidelines
AFT adopts the DOH (1993) definition of Clinical Supervision as:
“A formal process of professional support and learning
which enables individuals to develop knowledge and
with confidence, assume responsibility for their own
practice and enhance consumer protection and safety of care.”
It is the policy of AFT that family and systemic psychotherapists registered with UKCP
receive a minimum of one and a half hours of systemic supervision per month for the first
three years post qualification. After three years family and systemic psychotherapists are
required to undertake a minimum of twelve hours supervision per year. Systemic
supervisors are required to have specific supervision of supervision at least four times a
year for a minimum of an hour. This can be part of the required supervision for
registration as a psychotherapist but must be dedicated to supervision. This can be done
as a peer activity. Please refer to AFT guidelines for supervisors.
The Director/s and Heads of Departments of organisations employing family and
systemic psychotherapists and self employed/independent therapists, have
responsibility to ensure that a process of systemic consultation and supervision is in
place that complies with the relevant governance requirements and is sufficient to
maintain the psychotherapists’ registration with UKCP through AFT.
Systemic supervision should be provided by a senior (systemic) practitioner and may
be peer, discipline, and/or approach/method of treatment related.
It is expected that supervision will be conducted in an atmosphere of mutual professional
and personal respect and trust.
[It can include live, tape, talk, and group reflection, the generation of new ideas/practices,
and may enable connections to occur in the relationship between personal and professional
issues.] remove and replace with following:
Supervision can include live and retrospective material, processed in one-to-one or group
settings, and can incorporate sound or video recordings.
Clinical supervisees should retain responsibility for their clinical work within formally
recognised competencies, at their stage of training/development.
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These guidelines are broadly drawn for application to a variety of supervision contexts. They
can be supplemented by local protocols and procedures where, for example; the supervisor
is the supervisee’s line manager, the supervisor works in the same organisation, or the
supervisor is externally contracted.
In the event of a complaint; the organisation or individual practitioner should use the
complaints policy as appropriate.
Guidelines for supervision contracts
• the context of supervision ('line management', consultation external to the employing
organisation, etc.)
• regularity and timing of supervision
• cancellations
• cost and arrangements for payment
• which parts of the supervisee's working life are, and are not, included within the
scope of the contract
• recording of supervision
• confidentiality
• all forms of dual relationship
• management of concerns about clinical risk and quality of clinical practice
• learning and/or support needs that the supervisee feels need particular attention
• areas in which the supervisor may feel less competent, and might advise that the
supervisee seeks alternate sources of consultation
• whether and how the self of the supervisor and the self of the supervisee can be
discussed
• how the supervisory relationship itself can be discussed
• timing of a review of the contract
• Agree a third party that can be called upon if the supervisory relationship were to get
into difficulty
Supervisee Responsibilities
• To actively address issues of power and difference in therapeutic relationships and in
the supervisory relationship.
• To participate in creating the supervision contract.
• To prepare for supervision by identifying good practice, practice dilemmas, areas of
difficulty and by reflecting on the personal impact of practice.
• To agree an agenda for each session with the supervisor
• To use the supervision sessions constructively to enhance their learning and
practice, by being open to discussion, co-creation of ideas, and constructive
feedback.
• To maintain professional standards of confidentiality.
• To ensure issues of ‘risk’ pertaining to specific clients are actively considered.
• To openly address difficulties that may arise in the relationship at an early stage.
• To ensure their practice is consistent with professional codes of practice and ethical
guidelines for clinicians.
Supervisor Responsibilities
• To actively address issues of power and difference in therapeutic
relationships and in the supervisory relationship.
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• To ensure a safe, confidential environment for consultation and supervision
and to provide this in a manner that is consistent with professional codes of
practice and ethical guidelines.
• To create a supervision contract that includes regulatory (normative), developmental
(formative), and supportive (restorative) elements appropriate to the particular
context of the supervision. The contract should be clear about purpose and
boundaries, mutually agreed and be open to periodic revision (usually annually).
Lines of management and clinical responsibility appropriate to the context should be
clearly stated.
• To agree an agenda for each session with the supervisee
• To be active in creating a supportive and facilitative supervisory relationship in which
constructive feedback can be given and received.
• Be aware of supervisee’s developing level of competence, and tailor supervision
accordingly, enhancing the supervisee’s ability to explore issues, clarify their own
thinking, feelings and assumptions, and reflect on their practice.
• To ensure issues of ‘risk’ pertaining to specific clients are actively considered.
• To address personal issues in so far as they may interfere with or be affected by the
clinical work, and not to enter into a personal counselling relationship with the
supervisee.
• To challenge practice which (s)he considers unethical, unprofessional, and/or
incompetent and to keep the employing agency appraised of any serious concerns
regarding the supervisee’s practice. For concerns regarding psychotherapists in
private practice the supervisor has an ethical responsibility to seek advice regarding
possible courses of action
• To maintain an accurate record (including recording any disagreements) of each
supervision session. Records should be agreed with the supervisee, signed by both
parties and stored securely.
• To maintain and promote professional standards of confidentiality.
• To openly address difficulties that may arise in the relationship at an early stage.
• To initiate periodic review of supervisory relationship.
• To pursue their own continuing professional development (CPD) in order to be able
to work in the best interests of the supervisee.
Please also see the AFT website www.aft.org.uk for:
AFT Continuing Professional Development Policy
AFT Code of Ethics and Practice for Supervisors 2010
AFT Complaints and Disciplinary Procedure
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