Supervision for staff working in schools and community contexts: working relationally and reflectively (CPD32)
A supportive and reflective atmosphere in which to think about the meaning of the supervisory task and context
Supervision is a work-based learning relationship, characterised by relating and reflecting. It is a critical component of safe and effective practice across the human services, ensuring a containing and reflective space for practitioners to acknowledge and process the often stressful, uncomfortable and painful experiences of working with children, young people, their families and the systems around them.
Through containment and reflection rooted in a dynamic and relational supervisory experience, both supervisor and supervisee are enabled to learn and grow across their professional career. This course is designed for you if you are a practitioner experienced in providing supervision to colleagues in their own work contexts, as well as those planning to take up a supervisory role in future.
Aims and learning objectives
Upon successful completion of this course you will have an increased knowledge and understanding of:
- aims, functions and models of supervision in the diverse organisational contexts within which it takes place
- the professional, ethical, legal and regulatory contexts within which supervision is provided
- issues pertaining to sameness, difference and diversity in supervision,
You will have enhanced skills in:
- establishing, developing and ending a supervisory relationship, including contracting and reviewing the effectiveness for supervisee and supervisor
- supervisory processes
- communication within the supervisory context, including the provision and receipt of feedback (and evaluation where relevant)
Who is this course for?
This course has been designed for teachers and senior staff working in schools, children’s services, or other care or educational contexts who either currently provide supervision as part of their professional role or who are interested in doing so.
It is suitable for applied psychologists engaging in supervisory practice in local government, public sector, child, family and adult services and alternative contexts e.g. social enterprises, voluntary and independent private practice.
In particular, it is suitable for:
- educational psychologists involved in providing supervision and training within the national Professional Practice Placement Framework and
- psychologists focused on enhancing HCPC proficiency standards pertaining to supervision
Course details
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 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.
This cohort is now fully booked. Please use the register your interest button to be added to the list to be notified about future cohorts.
The current course will run on the following dates:
| Sessions | Date | Start time | End time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1/5 | 14 October 2023 (in person) | 9am | 4.30pm |
| Session 2/5 | 18 November 2023 (online) | 9am | 4.30pm |
| Session 3/5 | 13 January 2024 (online) | 9am | 4.30pm |
| Session 4/5 | 9 March 2024 (online) | 9am | 4.30pm |
| Session 5/5 | 4 May 2024 (in-person) | 9am | 4.30pm |
The in-person sessions on 14 October 2023 and 4 May 2024 will be held at the Tavistock Centre (120 Belsize Lane, London NW3 5BA)
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.
The Department of Education and Training at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust is committed to widening access to its courses and supporting a truer representation of the communities among those we train. The purpose of this bursary is to encourage, as a result of completing this training, the progression in supervisory/leadership roles in schools and the community of suitable candidates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, who have been historically excluded and are currently under-represented.
The bursary of 50% of the course fee can be awarded to two CPD32 students starting the course in September 2023. Successful completion of the course confers eligibility to join the British Psychological Society register of approved practice supervisors.
Applicants must:
- identify as being from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds;
- offer, or be about to offer in the forthcoming academic year, supervision in schools/community settings;
- be able to show how the course will positively support their progression /development;
- be fully enrolled on the course.
The successful applicants will need to show in the application form how the bursary would benefit them, their organisation, and the wider community in which they work.
Applications will be assessed by an appointed panel including the course lead.
Decisions are based on the quality of the application. Panel decisions are final. For the successful applicants, the bursary will be paid as a 50% refund on the course fee.
Please note: The closing date for applications is 23rd September 2023.
To apply for a bursary, please complete this application form.
Testimonials
Accreditations
BPS approved supervision training for the society’s Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAPPS)
Course facilitators
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Dr Emma Ní Chinnéide
Programme Director and Principal Educational Psychologist
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Dr Chris Shaldon
Senior Educational Psychologist
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Dr Ben Craik
Deputy Programme Director
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Dr Janchai King
Senior Educational Psychologist
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Dr Caoimhe McBay
Educational Psychologist
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Dr Marsha Douglas
Personal and Academic Tutor
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Dr Hannah Lichwa
Senior Practitioner Educational Psychologist
Register your interest
Bookings are now closed. Register your interest to join our waiting list and be the first to hear when this course reopens.
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