Professional Supervision

Professionalsupervisionentailsregularmeetingswithan
independentpersonwithtraining,skills,andknowledgetohelpyou
toreflectonyourworkpracticewithagoaltowardsimprovement.
Professionalsupervisionhappensoutsideoftheworkplaceandisa
confidentialrelationship.Atthebeginningofsupervision,youandI
willestablishasupervisioncontractthatincludesspecificgoals,
frequencyofmeeting,paymentarrangements,andanyotherissues
wedeemrelevant.Eachsession(whethermonthly,3monthly,or6
monthly)iscentredaroundyourgoalsandisfollowedwith
associatedhomeworktoassistyoutomovetowardachievingyour
goals.
Specifically,professionalsupervisiongivesyouachanceto:review
yourworkwithanindependent,confidential,highlytrained
professional;exploreyourfeelingsaroundwork(suchasexcitement,
frustration,anxiety,discouragement,orevenboredom);receive
objectivefeedbackandguidancerelatedtoworkissues/decisions;
identifyandplanforselfcareifnecessary;and/ordevelop
professionalskills(e.g.,timemanagement,problemsolving,
managingrelationshipswithothers,avoidingprocrastination)aswell
asobtainideasandinformationrelatedtocompetence,ethics,
standards,etc.
Whatarethebenefitsofprofessionalsupervision?Good
professionalsupervisionprovidesyouwithanobjective,non
judgmental,andqualifiedperspective,offeringbothsupport(for
yoursuccessesandyourfailures)andskillsforimprovingyourwork
performance.Supervisionisabouttakingcareofyourself,andabout
becomingmoreselfawareandskilled.Lackofsupervision,onthe
otherhand,canleadyoutofeelunappreciated,defensive,and
burnedout.Thisthencontributestodecreasedeffectivenessatwork
andinotherareasoflife,increasedabsencesfromwork,physical
andemotionaldifficulties,moreconflictamongworkmates,and
numerousotherproblems.

Supervisioncanresultin:
decreasedstaffturnover;
lessstressedandmoreeffectivestaff;
lowerlevelsofworkplaceconflict;
betterproductivityandefficiencyforyourstaff;
improvedworkplacerelationships;and
higherjobsatisfaction.
Thereareanumberofwaystoorganiseprofessionalsupervisionfor
yourselforanemployee.Someworkplacespayforanemployees
professionalsupervision(eitheraspartofanEAPserviceor
separately),butinothercasespeoplepayfortheirown.Ifyouhave
anEAPschemeatwork,contactyourHumanResourcespersonto
discussthepossibilityofprofessionalsupervision.Alternatively,see
yourworksupervisorormanager.
Anyoneinanytypeofworkcanbenefitfromprofessional
supervision.Theonlyrequirementisawishtoincreaseeffectiveness
atwork.Ihavewiderangingexperienceinsupervisingpeoplesuch
asGPs,businessmanagers,nurses,membersofthepolice,other
psychologists,socialworkers,universitystaff,principals,teachers,
childcareworkers,mentalhealthsupportworkers,andhuman
resourcesspecialists.Otherslikelytobenefitfromprofessional
supervisioninclude:teamleaders,anyphysicalandmentalhealth
practitioners,emergencyservicepersonnel(e.g.,FireService,
ambulance),thosewhointeractfrequentlywiththepublic,CEOs,
HODs,politicians,publicservants,etc.