Clinical Supervision - What?

Clinical Supervision provides you with a professional forum to safely and constructively reflect on your practice (knowledge and skills) in the context of your role within your organization.

The confidential space allows you the opportunity to learn to examine why and how you practice in the way that you choose. A place to examine what sources are guiding your practice is provided.

These might include:

• systemic or organizational policy;
• theories/ principles/ values/ code of ethics drawn from your professional body eg AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers);
• personal/ familial response etc

Provided monthly (ie not only in the form of critical incident debriefing where single events are addressed), Clinical Supervision practice goals are established and reviewed by you and form the focus of every session. Knowledge and skills are recognized, areas to be strengthened are highlighted and professional development pathways considered.

Independent from operational or task supervision, Clinical Supervision focuses on broad themes in practice, challenges their place and encourages new directions for professional learning. Clinical Supervision identifies the boundaries between personal and professional practice and refers on for personal counseling as required.

Clinical Supervision - Why?

As students we recognised and acknowledged the values of learning and the quest for new knowledge. Entering a career within the health and community sector we were provided opportunities for orientation and opportunities for professional development. Integrating current theory and practice was considered essential.

Developmentally our sector sees the value of targeting new graduates with access to professional reflective forums but as practitioners gain experience the sector can doubt its value. As professionals with experience or enhanced knowledge assumptions are made about "the value" of accessing supervision, do we really have time, do we really need it etc. Experienced practitioners are seen to "know enough" and so decisions to cut access to clinical supervision are made.

The literature however has always supported the value of access to clinical supervision regardless of our developmental stage. Principles of lifelong learning are supported by OECD in recognising the knowledge based economy.

"Lifelong learning is a continuously supportive process which stimulates and empowers individuals to acquire all the knowledge, values, skills and understanding they will require throughout their lifetimes and to apply them with confidence, creativity and enjoyment in all roles, circumstances, and environments."
Lifelong Learning in Australia, Dept of Education, Science and Training, 2003

Clinical supervision is known to support the continuous improvement of clinical practice, to ensure quality outcomes for clients, to enhance employee retention and to contribute to the growth and knowledge of the sector. Absence of clinical supervision opportunities can place the health and well being of clients and practitioners at risk and loses valuable opportunities to promote lifelong learning for the sector.

Clinical Supervision - How?

Supervision Service
As part of delivering the service, personal contact details (and that of your employing organisation if your employer is paying for your supervision) will be documented and stored securely. I will also keep a record of important issues discussed during the sessions, such as goals for supervision, themes explored and deidentified information about clients discussed. These client details will not include any identifying details, but act as a prompt, should you choose to discuss the client on a following occasion.

Supervision Method
All services will be delivered online, by Zoom or Microsoft Teams and a meeting link will be provided.

Supervision Goals
Goals for the practice will be negotiated individually and reflect identified professional development needs, career stage, individual circumstances and reasons for seeking out supervision.

Supervision Sessions commonly focus on:

• Presenting clinical issues
• Well-being and sustainability of you in your role
• Impact of context on practice
• Responding to change
• Ongoing skill development
• Integrating professional development training/ resources/ best practice to your practice
• Career development
• Connecting practice to social work theories and to the AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers) principles, aligning with the AASW Practice Standards (2023) and Practice Standards Supplement (August 2023), the AASW Code of Ethics (March 2023) and the AASW Accredited Supervisor Capability Statement (August 2022)

Supervision Outcomes might include:

• Practice within a safe and ethical space, grounded organisational or professional values eg AASW or those that connect us to our professional identity
• Recognising the capacity to develop tools enabling enhanced sustainability as a worker (minimising worker stress and maintaining and supporting worker retention and well-being)
• Experience of a supportive and confidential learning space, which enables safe and curious reflection, assisting potential for professional growth, to enhance skills, knowledge and professional capacity.

Frequency
Frequency of supervision is individually negotiated but is commonly provided monthly. (The AASW recommends a minimum of 10 sessions per year.)

Agenda / Structure
The supervisee will take responsibility for establishing priorities for the supervision session. Details of supervision planning and preparation for sessions will be negotiated individually and will be modified or renegotiated, as required.

Supervision records
Supervisor and supervisee will both take responsibility for maintaining our own individual records of sessions. Importantly my supervision records are considered confidential and for my use only. Documentation will be maintained in keeping with professional best practice standards and accountability. These records are stored securely and will be kept for a minimum of seven years.

Proof of supervision sessions
Proof of sessions is provided by an emailed invoice following the session which states the date of the session provided and the length of the session. Where necessary, an annual letter stating the dates/times of sessions can be provided. Preparation of additional information, such as any AASW recommended supervision documentation, are the responsibility of the individual supervisee.

Confidentiality
As per AASW, the practice of Clinical Supervision is grounded in the creation of a trusting safe space for critical reflection. As such all content of supervision sessions is held confidentially. Whether a supervisee is paying privately for supervision, or the employer is the purchaser, I will not discuss details of the sessions with employers or have conversations with them about the service provision.

As requested and only in consultation with the supervisee, a report can be developed to share annual themes drawn from sessions.

All services delivered by Melbourne Supervision are guaranteed to be delivered within the context of the AASW requirements and with reference to their statements ensuring best practice. AASW Practice Standards (2023) and Practice Standards Supplement (August 2023), the AASW Code of Ethics (March 2023) and the AASW Accredited Supervisor Capability Statement (August 2022).

Release of Information
Release of information will require explicit written consent by both supervisee and supervisor. Information may be disclosed without consent only when there exists a:

• clear risk to the supervisee or to others, or
• legal obligation to do so. Legal obligation includes such circumstances as a court subpoena, a valid search warrant or such other legalised requirements as may be in force at any given time.

Fees & Invoicing
The fee for supervision sessions is agreed upon prior to the first session. Fees are GST exempt and may increase periodically. Advanced notice will be given of any increase.

Individuals are invoiced following each session whilst organisations are invoiced monthly. Invoices are to be paid electronically via bank transfer as per instructions on the invoice.

The fee schedule can be found at https://melbournesupervision.com/fees

Cancellation
24 hours notice of cancellation is required or a full fee will be charged.

Clinical Supervision - Sources that inform practice

Alfred Kadushin - Founding Social Work Practitioner - 1985

Social work supervision is an integral part of the social work profession's approach to practice. According to Kadushin (1985), professional supervision in social work and social welfare has three functions:

1. Educative - developing the skills and knowledge of workers; acquiring professional competence; engaging in reflective practice;

2. Administrative/Managerial - promoting and maintaining good standards of work; implementing agency policies; monitoring and improving work performance;

3. Supportive - maintaining harmonious working relationships, morale and job satisfaction.

AASW Code of Ethics 2010
5.5.1 Education, training, supervision and evaluation

"Social workers will recognise that the supervisor's role is intended to be educational, supportive, developmental and work-focussed".
Queensland Health 2009

"Clinical supervision is a designated interaction between two or more practitioners, within a safe and supportive environment, which enables a process of reflective, critical analysis of care, to ensure quality consumer services."
Supervision, Well Being and Workforce Retention

"Professional Supervision: A Workforce Retention Strategy for Social Work?"
Phoebe Chiller and Beth R. Crisp Deakin University Victoria in Australian Social Work Vol 65, No. 2, June 2012, pp. 232 - 242

"On the basis of this research, the authors argue that regular supervision can increase the retention rate of social work employees; and it is therefore false economy not to allocate sufficient resources for effective supervision."
Advances in Clinical Supervision Conference, Sydney 2013

"Supervision is identified as an integral part of professional development providing a forum for staff development, quality clinical management and self-care. Supervisors must possess a range of skills, knowledge and experience within their clinical speciality and be able to enhance skills, knowledge and confidence in those they supervise."
Ms Christine Senediak