CPC Supervision Policy
1) Background:
Supervision is a process of professional learning and development that enables individuals to reflect on and develop their knowledge, skills, and competence, through agreed and regular support from another professional.
1) Definition(s)
Child Psychotherapists are specifically trained to work with the clients age 0-18. Child Psychotherapy Council takes into account neuroscience and contemporary theories of development and recognises that young people aged 18 -25 are still not adults and should be regarded as Young People or Young Adults and could be part of Child Psychotherapist’s clinical practice.
2) Background
i. The purpose of supervision is to give an opportunity to reflect on and develop clinical practice with a selected or nominated supervisor to explore the therapeutic needs of children alongside the system around the child and the complexity that brings.
ii. Child psychotherapeutic practice is uniquely complex in relation to working with children and families and wider systems. There are specific responsibilities with respect to safeguarding children and young people.
iii. We recognise that child psychotherapeutic practice places unique demands on practitioner’s wellbeing and resilience. Supervision creates a space to explore these demands.
iv. CPC requires all members in clinical practice to attend regular clinical supervision.
v. Clinical supervision is tasked with ensuring the highest stardards of the service provided to children.
3) Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that CPC members who provide or receive supervision, understand the expected standards of clinical supervision.
4) Supervisor requirements
I. Supervisors must be qualified Child Psychotherapists (as defined by CPC).
II. CPC recognises that at times, it may be necessary/appropriate to seek supervision from those with expertise who are not Child Psychotherapists. In these circumstances, CPC will consider the arrangement in the process of application or as part of the Annual Review and advise on the appropriateness of the supervision and whether further supervisory arrangements should be sought
III. Supervisors must be registered with the DBS Update Service or have an up-to-date enhanced DBS check.
IV. Supervisors must have indemnity insurance.
V. Supervisors must attend safeguarding training at a minimum of every three years.
VI. Supervisors must have a minimum of five years psychotherapeutic practice in working with children.
VII. Supervisors are recommended to gain a recognised qualification in clinical supervision.
VIII. Supervisors must have experience and training appropriate to supervise therapists within specialist fields. (For example, a therapist working with young people in a specialist eating disorders service should be supervised by a supervisor with experience in this field.)
IX. Peer supervision can be part of supervisory arrangements but cannot replace entirely clinical supervision with a contracted supervisor. Supervision can be offered within a peer supervision arrangement provided all members have a minimum of 6 years practice as qualified child and adolescent psychotherapists.
X. Supervisors must have knowledge and understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the clinical work with children and must consider these in all aspects of their clinical work as part of their supervision.
5) Amount of supervision
I. The supervisee, together with the supervisor must take responsibility for ensuring appropriate and sufficient supervision is provided with reference to number of clients, complexity of clients and supervisee’s capacity for the work.
II. If the CPC member is in less than two hours supervision per month a rationale for this must be given
III. Complex cases, including statutory agency involvement or legal proceedings may require additional supervision.
IV. Trainee members of CPC should have supervision at the ratio set by their training establishment.
6) Supervision formats
i. Supervision of accredited members can take place in person or remotely. In exceptional circumstances supervision can be conducted on the telephone.
ii. Supervision of trainee members should follow the format as stipulated by their training establishment.
7) Responsibilities of the supervisee
i. Together with the supervisor, the supervisee must arrange and attend supervision at a frequency commensurate with their workload, case complexity and capacity.
ii. It is the supervisee’s responsibility to discuss their cases, and any concerns they have with respect to their practice, with their supervisor.
iii. The supervisee must inform their supervisiors of any concerns raised by a client, or people involved with their client, about the supervisee’s clinical work.
8) Responsibilities of the supervisor
i. Supervisors must ensure there are procedures in place for contact between sessions in case of emergency.
ii. Supervisors must be aware of the work environment of the supervisee, and ensure it is suitable for children and families.
iii. Supervisors must understand the supervisee’s clinical responsibilities within their organisation and support their supervisee to work with others in the management structure as appropriate.
iv. Supervisors must raise concerns about practice with their supervisee, and where necessary, discuss how practice could be improved, including specific CPD that would be beneficial.
v. Where concerns remain, or in circumstances in which concerns are considerable, supervisors must inform CPC of their concerns regarding the practice of the supervisee and, where appropriate, recommend return to personal therapy, further training, suspension or termination of their practice..
vi. Were the supervisor to have concerns regarding safuaguarding matters they must pass on their concerns to appropriate authorities.
vii. Supervisors must attend regular CPD and their own supervision to reflect on and develop their own practice.
9) Requirements of evidence of supervision
Supervisees are required to seek confirmation of the amount of supervision attended through the year for their annual CPC re-accreditation.
