Extract from the听Ethical Framework
60.听Supervision is essential to how practitioners sustain good practice throughout their听working life. Supervision provides practitioners with regular and ongoing opportunities听to reflect in depth about all aspects of their practice in order to work as effectively,听safely and ethically as possible. Supervision also sustains the personal resourcefulness听required to undertake the work.
61.听Good supervision is much more than case management. It includes working in depth听on the relationship between practitioner and client in order to work towards desired听outcomes and positive effects. This requires adequate levels of privacy, safety and听containment for the supervisee to undertake this work. Therefore a substantial part or听preferably all of supervision needs to be independent of line management.
62.听Supervision requires additional skills and knowledge to those used for providing听services directly to clients. Therefore supervisors require adequate levels of expertise听acquired through training and/or experience. Supervisors will also ensure that they听work with appropriate professional support and their own supervision.
63.听All supervisors will model high levels of good practice for the work they supervise,听particularly with regard to expected levels of competence and professionalism,听relationship building, the management of personal boundaries, any dual relationships,听conflicts of interest and avoiding exploitation.
64.听All communications concerning clients made in the context of supervision will be听consistent with confidentiality agreements with the clients concerned and compatible听with any applicable agency policy.
65.听Careful consideration will be given to the undertaking of key responsibilities for clients听and how these responsibilities are allocated between the supervisor, supervisee and听any line manager or others with responsibilities for the service provided. Consideration听needs to be given to how any of these arrangements and responsibilities will be听communicated to clients in ways that are supportive of and appropriate to the work听being undertaken. These arrangements will usually be reviewed at least once a year, or听more frequently if required.
66.听Trainee supervision will require the supervisor to collaborate with training and听placement providers in order to ensure that the trainee鈥檚 work with clients satisfies听professional standards. The arrangements for collaboration will usually be agreed and听discussed with the trainee in advance of working with clients.
67.听When supervising qualified and/or experienced practitioners, the weight of听responsibility for ensuring that the supervisee鈥檚 work meets professional standards听will primarily rest with the supervisee.
68.听Supervisors and supervisees will periodically consider how responsibility for work听with clients is implemented in practice and how any difficulties or concerns are听being addressed.
69.听The application of this听Ethical Framework听to the work with clients will be discussed in听supervision regularly and not less than once a year.
70.听Supervisors will conscientiously consider the application of the law concerning听supervision to their role and responsibilities.
71.听Supervisors will keep accurate records of key points discussed in supervision.
72.听Supervisees have a responsibility to be open and honest in supervision and to draw听attention to any significant difficulties or challenges that they may be facing in their听work with clients. Supervisors are responsible for providing opportunities for their听supervisees to discuss any of their practice-related difficulties without blame or听unjustified criticism and, when appropriate, to support their supervisees in taking听positive actions to resolve difficulties.
73.听Supervision is recommended to anyone working in roles that require regularly giving or听receiving emotionally challenging communications, or engaging in relationally complex听and challenging roles.
