Resources

The way we work has been changing and we are not always in the office together for supervision support. However, we do need to maintain connection with each other. For a number of managers and supervisors, the switch to remote supervision has been a key change to practice, and NADA invites you to take some time to reflect and review on the changes that have been made in your organisation. Through a partnership with the Social Work Department at the University of New England (UNE), NADA has produced a practice tip sheet [PDF] on providing supervision remotely, that you can use to conduct a review and reflect process.

 

Practice tips: Remote supervision

While some people have returned to face-to-face and being in the office together, a number are still providing support remotely. This episode is on remote supervision, from Practice Tips, a short-animation series providing clinical and therapeutic tips for manager, leaders and workers in the AOD sector.

Professional and clinical supervision, what’s the difference?

It is important to be clear about what kind of supervision you are providing and to articulate this clearly to the person you are supervising.

• Professional supervision focuses on the development of a person’s skills, understanding, abilities and ethical requirements of their practice through a process of self-reflection. The focus is on the development of the supervisee within their chosen role or profession.^[1]
• Clinical supervision focuses on the development of a person’s clinical role and practice with a focus on quality control and assessment of knowledge, roles, attitudes, beliefs and skills.The focus is on clinical practice and competency for working in the sector, rather than within a chosen profession. ^[2]

 

Setting up for remote supervision

One of the key things to prepare for when conducting supervision remotely is the space or location where you will be when you participate in the session. For many people who are share housing, or reside in a small home, their work area can be their sleeping and relaxing space, so acknowledging this and exploring ways they can separate their work and personal time at home is important. Use this remote supervision checklist [PDF] to assist in the preparation for undertaking your remote supervision session.

Download this resource from Te Pou NZ, Providing supervision by phone or video calls 2020.

 

Are you getting the most out of your supervision?

If you are working remotely, supervision can become even more important—particularly if you don’t have the opportunity to connect with colleagues to discuss a case. A supervision record [DOCX] can help with providing some structure to the session, setting specific goals and identifying ways to support your practice and your wellbeing.

 

Do you provide supervision? Conduct a self-audit

However you are providing supervision these days, it is helpful to conduct a self-audit to identify areas of strength and make plans to grow your skills. The Clinical Supervision Skills Review Tool (Victorian Department of Health and Human Services and Health Workforce Australia 2014) assists clinical supervisors to review their skills in clinical supervision. The tool is easy to use and assists supervisors with their strengths in clinical supervision, and any areas that may need further development. Here is a video of these tools being put into practice.

[1] Te Pou July 2020
[2] Te Pou July 2020

NADA acknowledges the contribution of Dr Erica Russ and Samantha Ferguson to this page.

NADA received support from the Commonwealth Department of Health and the NSW Ministry of Health in the development of these resources.

Tags: Human Resources (HR), Remote work, Supervision, Workers