Supervision in schools and Charities The Vital Role of Therapeutic Supervision in schools and charities
Therapeutic Supervision supporting systemic reflective practice to promote wellbing for all
With over a decade dedicated to the field of therapy and supervision, I have established a reputation as a therapeutic supervisor. My 11-year journey encompasses a wealth of experience as a CPCAB supervisor and accredited psychotherapist, providing supervision across various settings including charities, schools, and specialist educational institutions.
At the heart of my supervisory approach is the creation of a safe space. This is where staff can reflect on how their workload, particularly child protection issues, affects their wellbeing and navigate the complexities of their roles.
My path began in school-based therapy, where I quickly recognised the necessity of supporting not just the child, but the entire system surrounding them. This insight led me to undertake two years of training to become a systemic family practitioner. This provided me with a comprehensive perspective on how systems function, emphasising the importance of considering the wellbeing of parents and staff alongside the children. It became clear that everyone involved with vulnerable individuals required a space to process some of the most challenging aspects of their work. For therapists, such a space is expected; however, charity workers and teachers, who also face serious incidents regularly, often lacked this vital support.
The Benefits of Supervision for Staff Include:
Emotional Support: Supervision offers a safe space for staff to process the complex emotions arising from child protection and safeguarding work, such as distress, frustration, or helplessness.
Preventing Burnout and Compassion Fatigue: Regular sessions help reduce the risk of burnout and compassion fatigue, common in high-emotion professions.
Professional Development: Supervisors provide guidance and feedback to enhance skills critical for child protection, including risk assessment and intervention strategies.
Ethical Guidance: Supervision aids in navigating ethical dilemmas, ensuring actions comply with professional and legal standards.
Reflective Practice: It encourages a reflective approach, leading to continuous professional learning and improvement.
Decision-Making Support: Supervision acts as a sounding board for complex decision-making processes inherent in child protection work.
Personal Wellbeing: Strategies to manage stress and maintain work-life balance are shared, supporting staff's personal wellbeing.
Team Cohesion: It fosters team unity and morale, crucial for maintaining a positive work environment in challenging settings.
Quality Control and Accountability: Ensures high-quality service delivery and accountability in professional actions and decisions.
Supervision in child protection and safeguarding roles is not merely beneficial but indispensable for the wellbeing of professionals and the efficacy and integrity of their crucial work.
I provide a monthly space for staff to come together, share, and explore their experiences.
Why not use school-based or onsite counsellors?
Utilising a counsellor who operates from the child’s perspective can create ethical conflicts and make it challenging for staff to open up within the confines of the same organisation. As a sole trader, I offer an independent, confidential environment for supervision, facilitated via Zoom or in my office, ensuring privacy and neutrality with my own insurance and DBS checks.
My insights on the necessity of supervision in working with young people have been published in Context magazine, highlighting the critical need for this support.
Fees
£85 per 50 minute session