Group supervision is normally provided within an established team of practitioners. It comprises structured sessions, often involving case presentations that include a genogram of the family to assist discussions. The practitioner may reflect on their experience in working with a client or family and seek the assistance from the group around a particular aspect of their work.
Group supervision needs to involve the supervisor responsible for work standards and document any decisions arising from the discussions.
Peer supervision often has broader membership than a practitioner’s immediate team. It does not involve supervisors and is therefore not a decision-making forum. It offers peer learning, reflection and a support opportunity for cases, responses and practice. Supervisees can then further reflect on these discussions during individual supervision. Peer supervision may be self-led by the group of peer practitioners or facilitated by someone designated as the facilitator of the reflective discussions.
Both group and peer supervision need to facilitate critical reflection and address one or more of the supervision functions. Both need to prioritise the wellbeing of those involved. They can include discussions about their team care plan (see the Appendix for an example). It can be an invaluable addition to individual supervision, providing team members and peers the opportunity to:
- learn from and support one another
- normalise their shared experiences.[1]
Reference
[1] Cortis et al., ‘Which models of supervision help retain staff? Finding from Australia’s domestic and family violence and sexual assault workforces’.
Updated