Introduction: In recent times, helping professionals have had to deal with much disruption, continuous change, increasingly high and complex caseloads, the shift to hybrid working, personal illness and loss, and the impacts of organisational change and resource limitations. These pressures have may influence what takes priority in supervision as we grapple to adjust to the ‘new normal’. The restorative aspect of supervision is becoming one of the most important features of supervision. So, how do we manage this function of supervision well? What do we mean by ‘restorative’ and where is the boundary between this and therapy? What approach is most helpful for our supervisees?  

Content: This one-day workshop presents the case for restorative supervision. According to Milne and Reiser (2020), supportive clinical supervision addresses supervisees’ emotional experiences of their workplace, and their personal functioning in that context. In this course we will:

• conduct an ecological analysis of key work stressors, and the potential impacts on practitioners
• examine the particular role of the supervisor and the nature of the relationship
• explore the central place of reflection in this aspect of supervision.

Furthermore, we will consider key aspects of wellbeing and resilience at work and how these may be enhanced by the supervisory process. Selected topics include:

• the role of social support and networking (‘support-mapping’)
• establishing wellbeing goals and self-care plans
• utlising strengths-based practice
• unpacking personal and professional values and narratives
• the role of emotional processing
• recognition of countertransference. 

Participants: This workshop is suitable for more experienced supervisors who have attended an introductory training and are encountering the need to address this aspect of their supervisee’s practice.

Format: The course is presented in a mixed methods approach including self-reflective exercises, case study analysis, and small group practice. Due to the reflective nature of the course, this is ample opportunity to reflect on one’s own wellbeing and approach to resilience as well as one’s supervisees.