Course Desctiption

The core objectives of clinical supervision are to ensure quality of care and professional development of clinical staff. It is a primary means of ensuring that these objectives are met. Supervision provides the bridge from the classroom to the actual practice of clinical skills by helping therapists acquire the knowledge and skills they need in order to make that transition. Supervision is necessary to enhance treatment, professionalism, and ethics. Supervision is defined as interaction between a supervisee (MFT/SW trainee/intern) and a supervisor. The main purpose of supervision is to have a more experienced individual (supervisor) guide and educate less experienced individuals (supervisees). Supervision is an environment in which the supervisee feels comfortable sharing their doubts, problems and issues surrounding their role as therapist/social worker. Let us not forget, however, that supervision is also part of the gatekeeping process of the profession. If it is too heavy-handed, it poses an obstacle to good potential clinicians, and serves a guild mentality. If it is too relaxed, it may result in incompetent care by trainees who should have been screened out.

Learning Objectives
By completing this course the healthcare professional will be able

1. Identify the common issues that may occur in supervision.
2. Identify potential ethical and legal issues that may arise.
3. Respond effectively to diversity issues relevant to the supervisee's development.
4. Identify and appropriately respond to conscious and unconscious psychological and emotional issues in supervisees.
5. Identify the strategies and methods for supervision.
6. Utilize means of reducing liability risk for supervisor, supervisee, and agency.
7. Identify the stages of the supervision process and what they entail.

The following topics are addressed in this training:
Supervisor Roles
Models of Supervision
Getting Started as a Supervisor
Competence
Ethics, Law, and Liability
Fairness in Administrative Processes
Maturity and Life Experience in the Supervision Process
Preventing Violation of Boundaries
Spirituality and Religion in Supervision
Client and Clinician Values
Theoretical Orientation and Training
Diversity
Cultural competence,
Self-knowledge
Minorities, power and social class
Dual and Therapeutic Relationships with Supervisees
Group and Individual Supervision
Stages, Personality and Developmental Level
Supervision Sessions
Ethics
Liability and Risk Management