Coaching and mentoring supervison
Coaching and mentoring supervision in Wolverhampton, the West Midlands and Staffordshire
Supervision is not a new concept. It has been practiced in social work, psychotherapy and counselling for many years. Professional supervision is new to the coaching and mentoring field but a growing number of professional coaches and mentors now regard supervision as essential to good practice.
So what is coaching / mentoring supervision? Firstly, it is a time and space to reflect on ones work. The purpose of that reflection is to make greater sense of difficult and complex work situations and to gain more clarity. Secondly, supervision is an opportunity to receive both practical and emotional support. Thirdly, supervision can be a place for ongoing learning and professional development.
It is important that every coach / mentor should themselves have a safe environment in which to explore what is happening for them in their client relationships, as well as issues around their competence and any areas in which they or their clients appear "stuck".
From the client's perspective, the role of the supervisor should give confidence that there is an element of external quality control over the coaching / mentoring process, a check that the process is running smoothly and that all key areas are being covered adequately.
How does coaching / mentoring supervision work?
Coaching / mentoring supervision usually involves presenting a specific case or a set of issues which are concerning the coach / mentor. The reflective space enables the coach / mentor to acquire a deeper understanding of what is taking place in the client system and in the relationship with the client. This learning serves the purpose of enabling the coach / mentor to develop deeper knowledge and wisdom about their work, promote good practice and develop a sense of being reassured and guided. Supervision can also focus on the session content, strategies and interventions used and the nature of the supervisory relationship itself.
Our supervisors are experienced psychotherapists and adult educators who are also successful in the fields of coaching and mentoring.
Guidelines for coaching / mentoring supervision
The importance of supervision is increasingly being recognised by representative bodies and organisations working in the field of coaching and mentoring. The European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) have now issued its Code of Ethics which includes recommendations to business coaches that they should be in supervision as part of good practice. At Lewis Psychology CIC we have a clearly expressed policy that all our coaches and mentors must be under regular supervision for a minimum of 1.5 hours per month.
Currently there are no nationally agreed guidelines as to the regularity of supervision. However the practice of supervision is strongly advocated by all the leading professional associations for coaching and mentoring.
For example the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) states in its Code of Ethics: "A coach/mentor must maintain a relationship with a suitably qualified supervisor, who will regularly assess their competence and support their development."
The Association for Coaching (AC) states in its Code of Ethics: "Coaches are expected to have regular consultative support for their work."
Whose interests does supervision serve?
Supervision serves both the interests of the coach /mentor and their client. Supervision is about ensuring that the coach / mentor is working responsibly and to the best of their ability, it also ensures a third party check on quality and ethics.
Supervision exists for the clients' benefit and to protect their interests. However, good supervision is also about the interests and well-being of the coach / mentor.
Next steps
A free initial 50 minute meeting can be arranged which is an opportunity to see whether supervisor and supervisee are able to work together practically, professionally and personally.
If you would like to arrange a free initial meeting, make a booking or require any further information about coaching / mentoring supervision please telephone our Wolverhampton practice on: 01902 827808. Alternatively fill out our online contact form.
We are open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 8:00pm and Saturday 8:30am to 6:00pm.