Masterclass Topic 3: Supervision with child and family cases

Supervision of child work is a particular skill that often involves individual therapy but also family systems based work. This introduces new complexities to therapy in terms of conceptualisation, ethics, boundaries, and mechanisms for change.

In addition to the usual skills of supervision, child supervisors must have additional skills in managing these complexities. This workshop aims to provide a forum for supervisors to learn ways of addressing these challenges.

Training techniques that will be used

  • Pre-readings on the topic,
  • Participants will be asked to bring notes regarding issues / queries experienced in supervising within the child and family field,
  • Drawing on the literature to provide a comprehensive, up to date outline of the most salient issues,
  • Whole group Fishbowl examples to demonstrate a) challenges associated with supervision in this area, and b) effective ways to manage such challenges,
  • Small group (2-3 participants) discussions to explore supervisor issues in relation to supervisee resistance, building on a case example prepared by each supervisor prior to the workshop,
  • Large group debriefing at the end of the workshop.

Evaluation

There will be two forms of evaluation: a) evidence that the participant had prepared a supervisee case to share with peers; and b) a peer evaluation of participants’ engagement and discussion.

Learning Objectives

Understanding the ethical, legal and empirical basis of child work

  • Gillick competence and the right to seek anonymous treatment,
  • Understanding who is the client and the implications of this for case management,
  • Overview of evidence based practice for common presenting problems.

Key Theoretical Orientations for Supervisees to be knowledgeable about

  • Behavioural,
  • Attachment,
  • Family Systems,
  • Attributional / Cognitive.

Assessment protocols for each theoretical orientation: helping supervisees to become familiar with each essential assessment component

  • SORCK, ABA and operationalization of behaviour,
  • Strange situation, observed play, attachment tasks,
  • Home observation, family history taking,
  • Assessing cognitions in children.

Outcome informed practice: making sure the supervisee effectively evaluates practice

  • N = 1 methodology,
  • Multi measure, multi-baseline,
  • Hypothesis driven treatment,
  • Common outcome measures,
  • Benchmarking supervisee effectiveness.

Influencing Skills for Supervisees

  • Working with parents,
  • Working with teachers,
  • Difficulties with engagement,
  • Assessing impact on self.

Dr Aaron Frost

Aaron is a Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years of experience. He joined the STAP team in 2011, and has primarily been involved with the facilitation of workshops. Aaron has proved to be a very competent presenter, receiving consistently excellent ratings from participants. Aaron has been running workshops for the last 15 years, and has also completed a number of “train the trainer” workshops, e.g. with Scott Miller as part of the International Centre for Clinical Excellence (ICCE) and is a certified trainer with ICCE.

Based on his experience, knowledge and skills developed over years of training, he has been invaluable in assisting with the updating and revitalising of the current STAP materials, which has resulted in somewhat improved feedback from participants.

Aaron has trained over 1000 psychologists as part of their supervisor accreditation process. 
Patrick Jones - Course author