This self-access class explores the responsibilities and accountability of supervisors working within COSRT’s professional standards. It revisits the foundations of supervision and considers the qualities supervisors need to provide competent, inclusive and compassionate support while maintaining appropriate challenge, professional oversight and public protection.
The class examines the key professional documents and requirements that supervisors should understand and discuss with their supervisees. These include the Code of Ethics and Practice, supervision agreements, re-registration and audit, continuing professional development, breaks in practice, thematic training and accreditation. It also considers the importance of maintaining clear records and ensuring that professional requirements are understood and met throughout a supervisee’s career.
Finally, the class introduces the role of the professional executor and examines COSRT’s conduct procedure. Participants are encouraged to understand how complaints are managed, what information may be requested from a supervisor and how accurate agreements, supervision records and constructive action planning can support a fair and transparent process.
These sessions are being developed as part of a wider pathway to supervision. At present, each self-access class can be purchased individually, either as professional development for those working towards supervision or as continuing professional development for existing supervisors. We will release further information about the pathway, including how the sessions fit together once the associated competencies and wider framework have been finalised.
Class Structure
- The foundations of effective supervision and the different roles a supervisor may hold.
- Compassion, inclusion, reflection and constructive challenge in supervisory practice.
- COSRT’s Code of Ethics and Practice, supervision agreements and professional standards.
- CPD, re-registration, audit, breaks in practice, thematic training, accreditation and professional executors.
- COSRT’s conduct procedure and the supervisor’s role when a supervisee receives a complaint.
- Record-keeping, report writing, professional accountability and supporting supervisees to respond reflectively and constructively.
The class concludes with a 20-question multiple-choice assessment.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this class, participants will be able to:
- identify the key qualities, responsibilities and areas of accountability associated with the supervisory role;
- consider how compassion, inclusion, power and difference influence the supervisory relationship;
- understand the purpose of COSRT’s principal professional practice documents;
- develop and review clear supervision agreements that reflect the needs of individual supervisees;
- support supervisees in meeting requirements relating to CPD, re-registration, audit, breaks in practice and accreditation;
- explain the purpose and responsibilities of a professional executor;
- understand the main stages of COSRT’s conduct procedure and the supervisor’s role within it; and
- maintain appropriate supervision records that support ethical practice, professional accountability and public protection.
About the trainer
Joanna Coker is a Counselling Psychologist, an Accredited Psychotherapist, an Accredited Clinical Supervisor and an Accredited Mediator.
Joanna has worked in the NHS with individuals, couples and families in a variety of clinical and counselling roles.
As a past Clinical Director of Local Counselling Centre in Herts, Beds and Bucks, she oversaw the clinical training of trainees on post-graduate training courses and provided a major base for the placement and specialist training of psychosexual therapists in the UK.
She offers clinical consultancy and supervision to allied medical professionals, hospices, schools and media companies.
Jo sits on several external committees advising on therapy standards and ethics including, the BACP Expert Reference Group (ERG) on the relationship counselling competence frame-work, advising on the inclusion of psychosexual therapy within the Scottish Psychological Matrix and the Coalition for Inclusion and Anti-oppressive Practice.
Jo was awarded a Fellowship of COSRT in 2020 for her work and contribution to the field of psychosexual and relationship therapy.
