This course has now closed for bookings for the 2022/23 year. If you would like to join the next course starting in Autumn 2023 please register your interest to be the first to hear when it opens for booking, usually a few months in advance.

Building on previous experience of delivery as a fully online course, the intention is to offer a blended model. The course plans to meet in person (subject to the relevant easing of COVID restrictions) on days one and five and through the online video-conferencing platform Zoom on days two to four for lectures and workshops.

Between these sessions delegates will use Moodle, our virtual learning environment, for exchanging questions, comments and dialogue.

There is an emphasis on active participation and learning through reflection on experience, and participants bringing practice experience from their own work contexts for reflection with the group.

The current course will run on the following dates:

The in-person sessions on 8 October 2022 and 20 May 2023 will be held at the Tavistock Centre (120 Belsize Lane, London NW3 5BA) subject to the NHS Covid-19 restrictions in force at the time.

On the other dates the course will meet over Zoom and we reserve the right to switch days one and/or five to remote delivery if required.

For the online sessions, you will need a device with a microphone and camera together with a suitably fast internet connection. Although mobile devices and tablets can be used, we recommend the use of a laptop or desktop PC for the best experience. Some devices provided by employers may have restrictions in place. Please use this Zoom test link to check your set up before booking.

You will be sent the necessary login link about a week before the course start date. Should you have any concerns about the accessibility of remote delivery please contact us to discuss how we can best help you.

The course is informed by the integration of theory, research and practice-based evidence on supervision. It aims to ensure you understand the importance of ethical and anti-discriminatory supervision across your career, and in making use of various supervisory models to reflect on and review practice.

It provides an opportunity to develop supervisory skills and competencies, including those outlined in the British Psychological Society’s Division of educational and child psychology guidelines for professional supervision practice.

During the course, we explore supervisory models, relationships and processes using the literature and participant contribution to draw out some of the issues which arise in supervision. There is a particular emphasis on the consideration of systemic, attachment and psychodynamic perspectives on the supervisory relationship.

Developing a supportive and reflective atmosphere within which to think about the meaning of the supervisory task and context, as well as the material brought to and from supervision, is critical to the success of the course.

Experiential component

There is an experiential component to all sessions, where  you will bring material from your own work context for exploration. This component across the five days promotes self-awareness, reflection and enhances supervisory skills in attuning to the diverse needs, competence levels and desired outcomes of different supervisees.

Given the central significance of power, privilege and oppression within the supervisory relationship and its situated context, there are repeated opportunities provided to support your capacity to promote equity, inclusion and belonging within supervision. 

Developmental tasks

At the end of days one to four, a task pertaining to developing supervisory competence is discussed and you will be expected to apply your learning in your work context and bring back the experience of doing so for small group reflection and feedback.

Practice of group supervision

We have included a fifth day on the practice of group supervision, based on the high demand from previous participants for input on providing supervision to groups.

Library membership

Included in your course fee, you will receive online membership to the Tavistock’s internationally-renowned library for the duration of your course.

Our friendly and knowledgeable library team will help to support you through your specialist CPD course, whatever your level of professional or academic experience. You will have access to an extensive range of eBooks, online journals, all the relevant key databases and our specialist audio-visual collection, plus reference access to all our print books.

Our information skills trainer has made lots of material available on Moodle to help you navigate our comprehensive electronic collections. PCs and photocopiers are available for your use (charges apply for printing and copying), as well as various online resources including audio/video playlists.