Clinical Supervision
The purpose of clinical supervision, as compared to line management supervision, is for the supervisor to help the supervisee become more effective in helping other persons ie the children in the case of play therapy. The role of a Clinical Supervisor is to provide support and advice upon issues that arise during the therapist’s clinical work. These may be matters of therapeutic techniques, therapeutic relationships, difficult problems, ethical decisions or issues that impact personally upon the therapist caused by the therapeutic process.
PTUK’s standards of supervision requirements are:
• Trainees – one hour of supervision for every six hours of clinical work with children, or fortnightly whichever is the shortest. Supervision must be with a registered PTUK supervisor who is a current member of PTUK.
• Qualified practitioners – a minimum of one and a half hours supervision a month. Supervision must be with a registered PTUK supervisor who is a current member of PTUK.
• Supervisors – a minimum of one and a half hours of supervision every month. Supervision must be with a registered PTUK supervisor who is a current member of PTUK.
One of the main constraints upon the growth of therapeutic play and play therapy in the UK is the shortage of experienced play therapy supervisors. PTUK accredits Play Therapy Supervision training programmes and encourages experienced practitioners (at least 300 hours clinical practice) to develop their career in this direction. Sometimes practitioners will have to use supervisors who have experience of the therapeutic use of the creative/expressive arts or who have supervised counsellors of children.
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What Is Supervision?
Supervision has two main functions; it should be educative and supportive.
Education – To provide a regular space for the supervisee to reflect upon the content and process of the work. To develop understanding and skills within the work. To help relate theory to practice. To enable the supervisee to apply their approach appropriately to children at different developmental stages. To have an opportunity to think and develop ideas. Back to Top
Support – To be validated both as a person and a therapist. To plan and utilise the personal and professional resources of the supervisee To give constructive positive and critical feedback. To offer a space to reflect and clarify what is evoked by the work and explore our reactions to this experience. Ensure that the work is done in such a way that the supervisor can be accountable for the monitoring and quality of the work being done with the children. It is important to form a clear contract for every supervisory relationship, stating length of contract, responsibilities and fees.
Certified Supervisors
Certified Supervisors are those who have taken the APAC Supervisor course and are on the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists. They may see any members from trainees to accredited.
Trainee Supervisors
Trainee Supervisors have completed the APAC Post Qualifying Certificate in Clinical Supervision. They are able to work with trainees on both the Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills and Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy courses and also qualified practitioners.
Trainee Supervisors need permission to carry out online supervision. Requests are assessed and permission granted at the discretion of the Clinical Team.
Approved Supervisors
As of the 1st September 2022, PTUK does not accept any new applications for Approved Supervisors.
Current Approved supervisors cannot work with trainees unless they have special permission from PTUK.
All approved supervisors are required to complete a top-up course every 3 years and cannot offer supervision without an up-to-date top-up course completed.
Online Supervision
Use of online platforms for supervision is only allowed by PTUK’s prior approval once all other options have been tried and may not be used with Certificate or Diploma course students. There is a strict protocol which must be adhered to.
Supervisor Map
