Best Practice in Professional Supervision: A Guide for the Helping Professions

Best Practice in Professional Supervision is an authoritative guide to being an excellent supervisor, covering the role, functions and dispositions involved.

The authors consider basic skills, the practicalities of forming and maintaining the supervision relationship, and the organisational context and culture of supervision. The book offers practical examples and a model of supervision which draws together ideas from adult learning theory and reflective practice. Viewing supervision as a place for learning, this guide considers how supervision can assist practitioners to develop professional resilience and manage the stresses of complex work environments. It also includes specific chapters on supervision of clinical student placements and in child protection settings.

This book covers a range of professions including social care, nursing, counselling, social work and allied health professions, and is an essential guide for all those in these and related professions undertaking supervision or supervision training.

Allyson Davys is a registered social worker who has a background of practice, supervision, teaching and management in health, social care and the tertiary education sectors. She has been involved in the development of supervision through research, education and practice for over 25 years and has a particular interest in interprofessional supervision. She currently teaches a postgraduate course on professional supervision at the University of Auckland and runs a private supervision practice.

Liz Beddoe is a professor of social work at the University of Auckland, teaching, supervising graduate students and undertaking research on professional education topics. She provides professional supervision to several social work academics and early career researchers. She has been involved in the development of supervision through research, education and practice for over 25 years with a particular interest in the impact of organisational culture on supervision and professional development of social workers.