Peer Supervision Groups

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Peer Supervision Groups

• Sue Clement 2009

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Aims

• To experience the forming of a peer supervision
  group- contracting
• To experience peer supervision- roles/ pitfalls/
  strengths
• Carry out PBL exercise
• To provide a safe place and emotional support
  whilst developing skills and experience
• To consolidate awareness of the continuing need
  for supervision of supervision

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Functions of Peer Supervision Groups

• Qualitative analysis by Jenny Hawkey (2004)
• of peer supervision in trainee CPs found these
• to be.
• Meeting own emotional needs
• Using others as a problem-solving tool
• Drawing on others knowledge/resources to broaden
  scope

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Pitfalls/traps/games in groups (Houston, 1985,
cited in Hawkey, 2004)

• Isn't it awful?
• We are all so wonderful
• Who is the best supervisor?
• Hunt the patient

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Peer Supervision Groups for Probation Officers
Mark Tisdall and Kieran ODonoghue (2003)

• To develop group rapport and emotional safety.
• Identify and discuss common problems in our
  professional practice.
• Support and guide each other in managing office
  politics.
• Create a forum to discuss professional and
  practice ethical dilemmas and develop strategies.
• Bring positive outcomes of our work as well as
  problems.
• To develop and update knowledge and skill in
  working with particular client groups.
• To enjoy the sessions and be empowered by them.

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Continuum of forms of group supervision
adapted from Inskipp, 1996, p.278
-----------I----------------------------I---------
----------------I---------------------------I-----
------- Individual supervision Participatory Co-o
perative Peer-group in group context group
supervision group supervision supervision
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Roles in Peer Supervision (Proctor Inskipp
2001)

• supervisee
• practitioner
• group member
• co-supervisor

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Contextual rings of the group supervision process
Hawkins and Shohet 2003
Attending to group dynamics and development
Facilitating group responses
Reflective space
Managing group contract and organisational
boundaries
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What happens within the session?

• Up for negotiation-supervision of supervision
• Influenced by your orientation/context/aims
• As formal/informal as the group finds helpful
• May wish to experiment
• Contract/PBL must be included over duration of
  group

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What happens within the session?

• Phase 1 The Request-for-Assistance Statement
• Phase 2 The Questioning Period and
  Identification of Focus
• Phase 3 The Feedback Statements
• Pause period
• Phase 4 The Supervisee Response
• Phase 5 Optional Discussion Period
• (Wilbur et al., 1991).
• Cited in Akhurst, J.E., Kelly, K. (2006). Peer
  group supervision as an adjunct to individual
• supervision Optimising learning processes during
  psychologists training. Psychology Teaching
• Review,12,1, 3-15

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Levels of Agreement and Alliances (Proctor
Inskipp, 2001)

• The Professional Contract
• The Group Working Agreement (agreements that need
  to be negotiated to forge a working alliance)
• Session agenda (the specific agreement at the
  beginning of each session)
• Mini contract for a particular piece of
  supervision

12
The Professional Contract

• what accountability is expected of participants
• Code of Ethics Code of Practice
• confidentiality in context
• overall ration of supervision to contact hours
• participants rights, responsibilities, and lines
  of communication with all employers

13
The Group Working Agreement

• the working arrangements (e.g. time allocation,
  method of presenting, pattern of sessions,
  reviews)
• the ground rules
• the individual responsibility of participants to
  identify their learning needs and what helps them

14
Session agenda

• Agreement made at the beginning of each session
• about what will be covered in time
  available-guided
• but not constrained by the group working
• agreement

15
Mini contract for a particular piece of
supervision

• the agreement about what each supervisee wants
  from a piece of supervision and how they want to
  do it
• The Russian Dolls

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The Task Today

• To split into your peer groups
• To discuss these agreements and the issues we
  covered this morning on contracting
• To begin to make a group supervision contract
• This contract should be completed at the second
  peer group meeting and brought to the next
  workshop.

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Further meetings

• It is suggested you meet in your peer groups (for
  at least an hour) at the following times
• March/ April (at base)
• Day 3 (April)
• On at least three occasions between Day 3 5 (at
  base)
• Day 5 (Nov)
• and beyond.?