Supervision FAQs

What is supervision?

The EMCC’s definition of supervision is:

A safe space for reflective dialogue with a practicing supervisor, supporting the supervisee’s practice, development and well-being.

The purpose of supervision is to:

• ensure the supervisee maintains appropriate professional standards
• facilitate the development of the supervisee’s professional practice
• provide support for the supervisee’s well-being

There are many ways to use supervision. It is not only about reflection on specific client cases. For example, supervision can be a space where the supervisee:

• explores ethical dilemmas
• develop skills as a reflective practitioner
• reflects on personal strengths and development areas within their range of professional competences
• seeks support to maintain well-being and psychological health
• addresses more general themes around the development of their competence, capacity and professional identity
• explores the direction in which they wish to develop their role and professional practice

Why is supervision important?

Reflective practice

Supervision is a form of facilitated reflective practice; it is a reflective dialogue that is designed to ensure we are all delivering our best work in the service of our clients, their organisations and all stakeholders. The increasing complexity the challenges which many clients bring to coaching and mentoring mean reflective practice is ever more important in enabling us as practitioners to work in this space.

Ethical practice

The Global Code of Ethics describes how regular supervision is an important requirement for professional practice, and a means by which we as practitioners can ensure we are acting with responsibility and accountability.

Accreditation

Accreditation supports an individual’s ongoing professional practice and provides a focus for ongoing development. A commitment to regular supervision is a core requirement for accreditation as a practitioner.

What kinds of supervision are there?

The three most common formats for supervision are:

Individual supervision

Here a practising supervisor (ideally trained and accredited) meets the supervisee (the coach or mentor) on a one-to-one basis. When working towards accreditation, the EMCC requires you use this form of supervision because it guarantees individualised attention for the practitioner.

Group supervision

Group supervision occurs when there is more than one supervisee in the session and it is being led by a practising supervisor (ideally trained and accredited). One advantage of group supervision is that the supervisees benefit from each other’s input, as well as that of the supervisor. The role of the supervisor includes accessing the collective intelligence of the group.

Peer supervision (groups)

Peer supervision is where the group supervises itself. The process is not led formally by a designated supervisor. Peer supervision is most effective when participants also have some training in supervision skills.

How much supervision do I need?

EMCC considers that experienced practitioners require a minimum of four hours individual supervision per year, evenly distributed across twelve months. EMCC also considers that the minimum ratio of practice to supervision for an experienced practitioner should be 35 practice hours to 1 hour of supervision received.

Where the practitioner is carrying out more than one form of work that requires supervision, then EMCC recommends that the minimum hours of supervision required per year increases from four to eight. In other words, if you are delivering any combination of coaching, mentoring, team coaching, supervision and/or organisational development interventions, then the minimum number of hours of supervision that you require is eight hours, distributed evenly across twelve months.

At EMCC, we also believe that the more work you undertake as a practitioner, the more you will benefit from supervision. So we encourage you to think about the type, duration, and frequency of supervision that you need to be well supported in your work and context. After the minimum criteria are met, it is for you as the practitioner to decide, based on your unique circumstances and needs, exactly how much supervision you require to perform at your best.

How can I find a supervisor?

You may wish to select a supervisor from the list of ESIA holders. These are individuals who have been accredited as a supervisor with EMCC Global. EMCC also accredits supervision training programmes. You also may find that one of the ESQA accredited providers will be able to offer you names and contact details of potential supervisors.

How should I select a supervisor?

Here are useful criteria to draw on in selecting a supervisor:

• They have experience and are accredited as a coach/mentor
• They have experience of being supervised and are themselves currently supervised
• They have had training in an accredited supervision program and are qualified as a supervisor
• They can explain a theoretical framework for their own coaching or mentoring practice
• They can explain a theoretical framework relating to supervision
• They show commitment to continuing professional development for themselves and their supervisees
• They agree to abide by the Global Code of Ethics for Coaches, Mentors and Supervisors

How can I train as a supervisor?

The EMCC European Supervision Quality Award (ESQA) endorses a number of supervision training programmes. Coaches and mentors interested in training as a supervisor can find accredited training programmes in this list of ESQA accredited providers.

There are other supervision training programmes which do not currently carry the ESQA award. If you are looking at these programmes, you are encouraged to find out what the ratio of taught input vs skills practice vs personal reflection is. We encourage you to select a program where skills practice occupies a significant proportion of the total qualification time.

Please note: qualification and accreditation are two different processes.

Qualification refers to the level of your training. You may gain a supervision qualification on completion of a course with your preferred training provider. You may remain qualified many years after you completed this, even if you stopped practicing.

Accreditation refers to your ongoing practice, it relates to the present. Accreditation is a mechanism by which a professional body regulates quality within that profession. Accreditation with EMCC must be renewed every 5 years.

How can I gain accreditation as a supervisor?

The European Supervision Individual Accreditation (ESIA) is EMCC Global’s accreditation for individual supervisors. The following criteria apply if you are seeking the ESIA:

Accreditation as a coach/mentor with EMCC at EIA Senior Practitioner Level or above
Completion of an ESQA programme or equivalent
Minimum 120 hours supervision practice experience
Confirmation of ongoing commitment to:

• Continuing professional development
• Supervision of supervision
• Reflective practice

Compliance with Ethics and Diversity statements
Maintenance of:

• Supervision Client Log
• Continuing Professional Development Log
• Supervision of Supervision Log
• Reflective Log

If you are interested in applying for this, please visit EMCC Global. A summary overview of the EMCC approach to supervision can be found here: EMCC Global Supervision information document.

Supervision competence framework

The EMCC Supervision Competence Framework describes the skills and behaviours we consider to be associated with good practice in supervision. We also recognise that competence frameworks do not capture everything. For instance, qualities such as ‘personal presence’ and the ‘capacity to engage fully in the supervision relationship’ cannot be easily reduced to a group of capability indicators.

Therefore, we advocate an awareness of the whole person in addition to specific skill sets. The ‘being’ is as important as the ‘doing’. Please bear this in mind when working with the EMCC Supervision Competence Framework.

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