Reflective Clinical Supervision in Speech and Language Therapy: Strengthening Supervision Skills (Professional Development in Speech and Language Therapy)

This book de-mystifies supervision in speech and language therapy, focusing on the practicalities and pitfalls. Clinicians are encouraged to reflect on their individual style as a supervisor and the tools they utilise to make a successful supervisory relationship.

Drawing on previous experience, Howes offers a combination of reflective, solution-focused, and strengths-based approaches, covering topics such as:

• The importance of the supervisory conversation
• Ways to ensure conversations are reflective and appreciative, supportive yet challenging
• The training needed to be effective supervisors and ‘good supervisees’
• The functions of supervision and how these change over time for each clinician, from learning new clinical skills to support in time and energy management
• Practical resources for busy clinicians, making it a manual of insights and support for supervision in SLT

Reflective Clinical Supervision in Speech and Language Therapy will be an invaluable guide for all speech and language therapists who are either experienced or newly established supervisors supporting others with the complexities of casework and the stress of relationships in every busy working day.

Ruth Howes worked for 34 years in the NHS with various SLT roles including clinical lead for complex developmental needs and autistic spectrum disorder. She was a specialist adviser to RCSLT for much of her time in the NHS and was lead author for the RCSLT Assistant Practitioners project (2022). Ruth is now in independent practice, Communicology SLT Consultancy, working primarily with families of children with autistic spectrum disorder. She also separately runs ARC Supervision, offering both supervision and training in supervision.