Improving one's practice of clinical supervision of guidance officers

Abstract

This paper describes the key features of a collaborative qualitative research project led by a senior guidance officer aimed at improving the practice of guidance officer clinical supervision. The research used a constructivist approach and developed personal understandings of clinical supervision by the participants as adult learners. A collaborative process of professional development of clinical supervision skills and knowledge was undertaken as a way of improving practice in the workplace as a part of the guidance supervision practices in a school district. The process was called a “supervision improvement cycle” and was led by the writer as a senior guidance officer and undertaken in collaboration with three guidance officer colleagues, another senior guidance officer acting as critical friend and also two doctoral supervisors. Together the participants formed a “supervision improvement community”. Such a community could be replicated in other work sites and use the “supervision improvement cycle” discussed in this paper as a way of improving a supervisor's clinical practice and by building commitment to regular planned supervision.