Supervision – correction or reflection?
Most professional bodies require their members to reflect on practice in order to continue to learn from experience. Supervision (or clinical supervision) is a recognised means of supporting safe practice in the health and social service professions and ultimately ensuring better quality of care for clients.
Supervision is not a very helpful term for many who work in the sector. It implies monitoring and oversight. It suggests supervisors (usually more experienced clinicians) check and correct practice. Best practice in supervision these days says that ‘reflective’ supervision is the way to go.
Getting people to reflect in the present, on the past, for the future ensures they maintain a high quality of practice whilst keeping themselves fresh and engaged in the process.
Two of the biggest challenges for supervision in the health and social service sectors are the availability of skilled and qualified supervisors in each discipline area and the time it takes to provide supervision to all those who need it.
To build the capacity of the sector to provide the levels of personal and professional support necessary for people to do their best work, the NZ Coaching & Mentoring Centre has partnered with Unitec Institute of Technology to offer a 2 day certificated course – Supervision Skills for Health & Social Service Professionals (level 5, credits 4).
It equips experienced people with the skills they need to supervise people in their own discipline area and is recognised by a number of professional bodies as a foundation qualification for new supervisors.
This year, the course is taking place in both Auckland and Wellington and I'm offering LEAD subscribers a 10% discount on course spots (Normally $695+gst/person). Click below to find out more and register.