Reflective supervision is particularly important for the sector because:
- These workforces are exposed to unique psychological health, safety and wellbeing risks. It is important to recognise and normalise the impact on practitioners’ emotions, behaviours and reactions. Vicarious trauma and employee burnout are widespread issues.
- Practitioners work on a micro level to address structural and systemic problems. They may experience fatigue and burnout as a result.
- Systemic discrimination and racism in Australia mean extra health, safety and wellbeing impacts on First Nations practitioners and those from diverse communities. These practitioners often work with their own communities and carry a ‘cultural load’.
- Person-centred practice is dependent on the quality of relationships between practitioners and clients. This includes being able to develop rapport, trust and empathy. It includes bringing the ‘whole self’ to practice.
- It is healthy to discuss experiences and feelings related to working with risk, uncertainty, anxiety, engagement and decision-making.
- Supervisors play a crucial role in developing, sustaining and retaining the workforce. They need their own reflective supervision to model the process and grow as leaders.
‘The only way to prevent being affected would be to eliminate human relationships and emotions by becoming a robot. This would exclude the best of what we bring to our work – ourselves.’
— Hewson and Carrol, 2016[1]
Reference
[1] Hewson and Carroll, Reflective Practice in Supervision.
Updated