Supervision Agreement

Our Work Together

Each supervision session lasts 60 or 90 minutes, and you are welcome to choose the frequency of sessions most suited to your needs (and in alignment with the requirements of your professional body, agency, or training organisation). Our work together is based on an open-ended agreement, which we will review regularly to ensure it continues to meet your professional and developmental needs.

For our sessions, please choose somewhere you won’t be disturbed or overheard. You are welcome to use headphones for privacy, and you may want to create a comfortable space for our work by bringing a warm drink. We can talk more about what this might look like for you when we meet.

Our online sessions take place on Zoom, and I kindly ask that you do not record any of our sessions unless we have agreed to do so for training or assessment purposes. If the internet connection is interrupted during an online session, we may arrange to continue via phone or re-arrange a mutually convenient alternative time.

If I can’t attend a session we have arranged, I will give you as much notice as possible and offer an alternative time.

Between sessions, we may contact each other by phone, text, or email to arrange cancellations or reschedule appointments. I will try to respond to you as soon as possible, although this may not always be immediate. You are also welcome to get in touch with me between sessions if you have serious concerns about your or your clients’ safety.

If you miss a supervision session and I don’t hear from you, I will contact you to check in, and then if I don’t hear from you, I will assume you no longer wish to continue with supervision unless you make further contact.

Purpose of Supervision

Supervision is a collaborative and reflective space to support your professional and ethical counselling practice. The purpose of supervision is to:

• Safeguard clients’ wellbeing and ensure ethical standards are maintained;

• Support your growth and development as a practitioner;

• Offer space to explore your client work, process, and professional challenges;

• Help you develop confidence and competence within your own therapeutic approach.

Our supervision will draw on developmental and systemic models such as the Integrated Developmental Model (IDM) and the Seven-Eyed Model, as well as the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions (2018).

Confidentiality

What we talk about in supervision is confidential and will not be shared outside of supervision without your consent. There are, however, some exceptions to this confidentiality, including if:

• There is a serious risk of harm to you, a client, or another person;

• There is a legal requirement to disclose information (for example, safeguarding, terrorism, or money laundering);

• Information needs to be discussed in my own supervision of supervision (where identifying details are always removed).

If I have serious concerns about a client’s or your own safety, I will discuss this with you wherever possible before taking any action, which might include contacting relevant support services or professional bodies.

Confidentiality in Client Work

Please ensure that all client material you bring to supervision is anonymised as far as reasonably possible. Clients should be aware, through your own contracting, that their work may be discussed in supervision.

I keep brief notes of our sessions for my professional accountability. These notes are stored securely in accordance with GDPR (2018) and will be retained for seven years. You are welcome to request a copy of any notes I hold about our supervision.

Roles and Responsibilities

As your supervisor, I agree to:

• Offer a supportive and reflective space for you to explore your practice;

• Help you maintain ethical and professional standards;

• Provide constructive feedback and guidance where appropriate;

• Highlight potential ethical issues or risks if they arise;

• Keep appropriate records of our supervision.

As the supervisee, you agree to:

• Bring your work openly and honestly to supervision;

• Maintain client confidentiality as far as reasonably possible;

• Inform me of any significant professional, ethical, or personal issues affecting your practice;

• Maintain appropriate professional membership, insurance, and ethical standards.

Fees and Payment

I kindly ask that payment be made before each session. Also, your next session is not confirmed until payment for the previous session has been received.

Cancelling, Rescheduling, and Late Arrivals

Sessions can be cancelled or rescheduled without charge up to 24 hours before the booked time. Any cancellations or missed sessions made after this time will require payment in full.

If you have not arrived for our session five minutes after the start time, I will contact you to check that you can log in. If I don’t hear back from you, the session will be considered missed, and payment will be due in full.

Ethical Standards and Complaints

I work within the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions (2018), and I am a registered member of the BACP.

If you are unhappy with any aspect of our supervision, I encourage you to discuss this with me so we can explore it together. If we cannot resolve the issue, you may refer to the BACP Professional Conduct Procedure.