Section IV Supervision modules, outlines and assignments

Introduction

Supervision modules are designed to accompany related theory modules, to support students to apply their theoretical knowledge in practice.  The functions of University clinical supervision are:

  • To monitor the suitability of patients being assessed for treatment in relation to the aims of the programme and the student’s experience and expertise.
  • To monitor the patient’s progress in treatment.
  • To facilitate the development of the student’s therapeutic assessment and intervention skills.
  • To enhance the student’s adherence to therapeutic protocols where indicated by the evidence base.
  • To make links between research, theory and practice.

All students who take supervision modules attend the ‘Introduction to Supervision and CTS-R’ teaching day timetabled at the start of the programme.  Supervision is usually delivered in 10 week blocks, in groups of 3 students, for 90 minutes.  You and your supervisor will negotiate a supervision contract in the first session, focusing on the particular skills that you need to develop.  At the end of the supervision block you will be assessed against the CTS-R, and required to achieve a score depending on the module taken (see section III).  In exceptional circumstances it may be possible to access Skype supervision.

Students are expected to see patients through the service in which they are employed.  Where this is not possible, you will have discussed alternative arrangements with your programme lead at interview and satisfied them that you are able to access suitable patients ahead of the first supervision session.  Responsibility for arranging suitable cases for training rests with the student and their service.

You will discuss two patients during the course of each 10 week supervision module, and have met both people for a brief screening assessment prior to the first supervision session.  You will submit your case report and summative therapy recording on one of these patients.  Should one person drop out of therapy, you will be able to draw on your second case for the module assignments.

You will video record therapy sessions with both cases brought to supervision each module, having obtained written consent to record using your workplace documentation or the version in the handbook appendices.  Prior to each supervision, you will have watched at least one therapy recording in full, reflected on your performance (given your supervision contract), decided on a supervision question, and identified a linked excerpt.  You will bring video excerpts each week.

Students will receive formative feedback from their University supervisor on excerpts each week, and in the form of a written report for a full session recording submitted half way through each module.

Supervisors will provide a supervision report at the end of each module (for IAPT students this includes your NHS supervisor).  You will then write a brief reflection on the report and your progress prior to uploading the combined report by the deadline.  A satisfactory rating from your supervisor(s) is required to pass the module.

Supervision Modules Available

PSYC6102 CBT Supervision 0: Basic Introduction to Evidence-Based Treatments for People with common mental health problems

PSYC6095 CBT Supervision 1: Introduction to Evidence-Based Treatments for People with common mental health problems

PSYC6096 CBT Supervision 2: Disorder-Specific Treatments for People with Anxiety Disorders

PSYC6097 CBT Supervision 3: Evidence-Based Treatments for People with Depression

PSYC6100 CBT Supervision 6: Introduction to Working with People with Psychosis

PSYC6101 CBT Supervision 7: Further Skills for Working with People with Psychosis

More information regarding each module can be found on the respective blackboard sites.

Documenting Clinical Supervision

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that an adequate supply of all appropriate forms and documents are available for their clinical supervisor’s use.  These are included in this handbook in the appendices.

  • Each supervision session should be recorded using a Supervision Record form (or a similar).  This is your record and is a professional requirement but is not submitted.
  • You will complete the Supervision Log for each supervision session, and ask your supervisor to sign each entry.  It is important that signatures are obtained as the programme progresses.  For students on the PG Diploma programmes, signed copies of these documents are needed for the Portfolio assessment.  For students on the PG Certificates, we recommend that you keep this paperwork in case you transfer to the Diploma or seek BABCP accreditation at a later date.
  • University supervisors complete an end of module Supervisor Report which is sent to their students.  A satisfactory rating is required to pass the module and progress.  You then complete a brief reflection on supervision and submit the combined report.  Students taking the IAPT Diploma also require a satisfactory rating from their NHS supervisor, and include this in the combined report.
  • The Clinical Log gives evidence of the range of clients seen, and the number of clinical hours accrued, in line with BABCP requirements.  This and other documents will form part of the PG Diploma Portfolio.
  • A Patient Summary Sheet is completed for each patient discussed in University supervision.  You will clearly mark whether a case report and/or therapy recording has been submitted for each patient, representing close supervision as defined by BABCP.  Students taking the PG Diplomas need to evidence complete treatment with three closely supervised patients (with different presenting problems).  Additionally, students taking the PG Diploma (IAPT) need to evidence complete treatment with a further five patients.  For both Diplomas, University supervisors sign off the three closely supervised patient summary sheets for those discussed in University supervision.

You need to obtain signatures as the programme progresses.  We use a number of experienced and accredited external supervisors who may not be available to provide signatures at a later date, and this may delay your award.

 

Recording Clinical Sessions

As part of your training you will be expected to video record all clinical sessions with patients you are discussing in University supervision.  Your employing organisation may supply you with the necessary recording equipment.  The university and NHS Trust (where applicable) will inform you on how to store and transfer data in line with data protection policies and procedures.  It is a requirement that you comply with your Trust’s guidance.

You are required to bring therapy excerpts to university supervision every week.  This will give you valuable formative feedback.  You will provide a full session therapy recording to your university supervisor half way through the module and s/he will provide written feedback.  In addition, at the end of each module you are required to submit a different full therapy session of one of the two cases you have been discussing in University supervision, for summative assessment.

We will provide you with detailed instructions on recording and uploading video sessions.  It is essential that you follow the guidelines carefully.  Always carry out a brief sound check with the patient present to account for voice volume and external noise.  Watch your recording prior to supervision and/or submission to ensure that you and your patient can be clearly seen and heard.  It may not be possible to assess incorrectly recorded, encoded or uploaded submissions, and this may result in failure of the assignment.

The prospect of recording clinical work often creates anxiety for students.  It is worth considering the points made by Feltham and Dryden (1994) on the advantages of recording sessions, and the implications of not doing so:

“The rationale for insisting on the regular or occasional submission of supervisee’s recordings is that this is probably the closest you can come to direct evidence of how the supervisees (and trainees) actually work.  Reliance on only their verbal reports of their work is, we believe, unwise because (1) they cannot accurately or non-selectively recall details of interactions in sessions, (2) they are likely to distort, consciously or unconsciously, aspects of their work, especially if they are being assessed, and (3) verbal reports may favour the more articulate or artful supervises and discriminate against those who are inclined to discount their own strengths.” (p34)

They also discuss the issue of confidentiality:

“The objection that direct recording breaches confidentiality is not valid, since counsellors [sic and psychotherapists] take notes of sessions and report to supervisors anyway, and recording is simply a technologically superior method of recording and relaying the content to a supervisor.” (p34)

Recording should be introduced to patients in an ethical and responsible way.  All students are expected to obtain written consent before any recording commences and explain:

  • The purpose of the recording.
  • Who will see/hear the recording.
  • What happens to the recording after use.
  • How confidentiality is assured in terms of storage and disposal.
  • That patients have the right to decline to be recorded at any time, and to change their mind.
  • That written consent is necessary before the recording is viewed.

For further information please see the Consent to Record Sessions form in Appendices.

Reference

Feltham, C. & Dryden, W. (1994). Developing Counsellor Supervision. London: Sage.

Comments are closed.