What is Supervision?

Supervision is best understood as a method of gaining a broad overview of one’s work in order to provide the best possible service to the client. Supervision is a relational endeavour between supervisor and supervisee, through which the worker can explore all the aspects and impacts of his or her work.
Whatever work we do, that work has an impact at many levels. It has an impact directly on the recipient of the service and on the worker, on the organisation providing the service and on others working in that organisation. Indirectly our work has an impact spreading out in myriad directions.

Why Supervision?

Supervision serves a dual purpose: it is concerned with both the service given to the client and the impact of that service on the helping professional.

Good supervision promotes the wellbeing of the client and the professional development and personal welfare of the worker.

Good supervision promotes good outcomes.

All the stakeholders are held within the ‘vision’ of supervision, with the supervisor paying direct attention to the client, the receiver of the service, and to the helping professional, the giver of the service.

Are you getting the supervision you deserve?

• Is your supervision a safe space?
• Is your supervision a restorative space?
• Is your supervision a learning space?
• Are the boundaries of confidentiality respected?
• Is there an open and genuine relationship?

If the answer to any of these questions is ‘no’, could you discuss that with your supervisor?

If not – you should think ………….. am I getting the supervision I need and deserve?

All of us have blind spots, deaf spots and dumb spots.

Supervision helps us to explore and uncover the parts we consciously or unconsciously want to avoid.

Organisations and work groups also have blind, deaf  and dumb spots. Organisations range from nurturing places to work, where  good work is noticed and  acknowledged, to places where enthusiasm is drained and workers go home depleted.

Good supervision can help organisations and groups to work well and provide the best possible service for all.

Who needs Supervision?

Anyone who works in the helping professions can benefit from good supervision.

Having a time, place and supervisor with whom we can discuss, in confidence, our work and the impact of that work on a regular basis, is of real value.

Supervision is both outcome and process oriented. It differs from line management in that it is concerned with a holistic view of the client, the worker and the workplace, not just with an end product or outcome.

Please email Yvonne.jacobson@relationshipsireland.com.ie or call 01-6443908 for further information on our supervision service.