Last updated December 2025

 

Supervision Agreement for Associates at Abantu Therapy

 

Introduction

 

This Supervision Agreement outlines the terms and conditions for clinical supervision between the Supervisor (Clinical Psychologist at Abantu Therapy) and the Supervisee (registering with the practice). It is designed to promote safe, ethical, and effective psychological practice in line with the British Psychological Society (BPS) guidelines on clinical supervision and the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) Policy on Supervision 2023 , as well as relevant NHS policies on supervision for psychological professions . This agreement ensures compliance with the BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct, emphasising professional development, accountability, and client welfare.

 

Supervision is a collaborative process aimed at enhancing the Supervisee’s clinical skills, supporting reflective practice, and ensuring adherence to professional standards. Both parties commit to fostering a supportive, confidential, and constructive supervisory relationship.

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1. Parties Involved

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•  Supervisor: Dr. Noreen Dera, Clinical Psychologist, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) PYL040449. This role includes providing oversight, guidance, and evaluation at Abantu Therapy.

•  The supervisee is registered with the Health Care Professions Council (or other equivalent professional body) is a registering with Abantu Therapy. The Supervisee must be working towards or maintaining relevant professional registration (e.g., HCPC) and adhere to BPS ethical standards.

 

This agreement commences on the date of signing and will be reviewed annually or sooner if needed.

 

2. Purpose of Supervision

 

The primary aims are:

•  To support the Supervisee’s professional development, skill enhancement, and integration of evidence-based practices.

•  To ensure safe and effective client care, including risk management and adherence to NICE guidelines where applicable.

•  To provide a reflective space for discussing clinical cases, ethical dilemmas, and personal/professional growth.

•  To comply with BPS and HCPC requirements for ongoing supervision as part of continuing professional development (CPD).

Supervision will focus on clinical work, professional standards, and operational aspects within the practice, but it is not a substitute for personal therapy or managerial oversight.

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3. Roles and Responsibilities

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Supervisor’s Role

•  Provide structured guidance, support, and challenge to facilitate the Supervisee’s growth.

•  Offer feedback on clinical formulations, interventions, and decision-making.

•  Ensure supervision aligns with BPS ethical principles, including respect for diversity, equality, and human rights.

•  Monitor the Supervisee’s workload and competence, intervening if necessary to protect clients or address risks.

•  Maintain records of supervision sessions and contribute to the Supervisee’s appraisals or CPD logs.

•  Uphold confidentiality, except in cases of safeguarding, fitness to practice concerns, or legal requirements.

•  Engage in their own supervision and CPD to maintain supervisory competence, as per BPS HCPC standards.

 

Supervisee’s Role

•  Actively participate by preparing for sessions (e.g., bringing case notes, reflections, or concerns).

•  Engage honestly in discussions, including self-reflection on biases, strengths, and areas for improvement.

•  Apply feedback to clinical practice and document actions in client records where relevant.

•  Seek informed consent from clients for discussing identifiable information in supervision.

•  Inform the Supervisor of any issues affecting practice, such as workload stress or ethical conflicts.

•  Maintain professional boundaries and adhere to Abantu Therapy’s policies.

 

Both parties agree to respect cultural, individual, and role differences, addressing any power imbalances in the supervisory relationship.

 

4. Frequency, Format, Cost, and Duration of Supervision Sessions

 

•  Frequency: Sessions will occur as per supervisee’s needs, however once monthly supervision is recommended  for newly qualified supervisees, with a minimum of one hour per session. Additional ad-hoc sessions may be arranged as needed.

•  Format: Primarily offered remotely. Face to face or telephone supervision can also be arranged if appropriate. Group or peer supervision may supplement if appropriate.

•  Duration: Each session will last 60-90 minutes, with protected time allocated to minimise disruptions.

•  Location and Environment: Sessions will be held in a private, confidential space at Abantu Therapy, ensuring access to necessary resources (e.g., case files). If remote, both parties will ensure a secure, distraction-free setup.

• Cost: Supervision sessions will be charged at the rate of £120 per hour.

 

•  Scheduling and Cancellations: Sessions will be scheduled in advance. Cancellations require 24 hours’ notice, except in emergencies, and will be rescheduled promptly. Short notice cancellations or non-attendance will be charged at the full fee of £120 per hour.

 

5. Limits of Competence

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•  The Supervisee agrees to practice only within their current level of competence, as defined by BPS and HCPC standards. This includes recognising personal limitations and seeking guidance on complex cases (e.g., those involving high risk, specialized populations, or unfamiliar interventions).

•  The Supervisor will assess and monitor competence through case reviews, feedback, and observation (if appropriate) (e.g., joint sessions or audio/video review where consented).

•  If the Supervisee encounters work beyond their competence, they must discuss it immediately in supervision. The Supervisor may recommend additional training, co-working, or referral.

•  Both parties commit to evidence-based practice, staying updated on research and guidelines (e.g., NICE,BPS and NHS frameworks).

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6. Confidentiality and Privacy Policy

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•  Supervision discussions are confidential to foster open reflection. However, confidentiality is not absolute and may be breached in cases of:

•  Immediate risk to clients, self, or others (e.g., safeguarding concerns under the Children Act or General Data Protection Regulation GDPR ).

•  Fitness to practice issues, misconduct, or legal requirements (e.g., reporting to HCPC or authorities).

•  Audits or quality assurance processes at Abantu Therapy.

•  Client information shared in supervision will be anonymised where possible. Identifiable details require client consent, which the Supervisee must obtain and document.

•  All records comply with GDPR and Abantu Therapy’s privacy policy. Personal data will be stored securely, with access limited to relevant parties. Our policy can be found here.

•  The Supervisee agrees not to disclose supervision content outside the agreed context without permission.

 

7. Recording and Documentation

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•  Sessions will be documented collaboratively, including key discussions, decisions, actions, and feedback.

•  The supervisee is responsible to keeping records of their supervision notes. However, general notes and summaries of supervision will be stored securely in Abantu Therapy’s system (e.g., electronic logs), accessible for appraisals, audits, or CPD purposes.

•  The Supervisee will note clinical risks or actions in client files, using initials for identification.

•  Both parties will review records periodically to ensure accuracy.

 

8. Feedback and Evaluation

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•  Feedback will be provided constructively and regularly, focusing on strengths and development areas.

•  Mid- and end-of-period reviews will assess progress against objectives, with written summaries.

•  The Supervisee can provide feedback on the supervision process to improve it.

 

9. Duration, Review, and Termination

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•  This agreement is ongoing during the Supervisee’s registration with Abantu Therapy but will be reviewed annually or upon significant changes (e.g., role shift).

•  Termination may occur by mutual agreement, upon completion of objectives, or if either party identifies irreconcilable issues. Notice period: 4 weeks.

•  If concerns arise (e.g., unsatisfactory performance), they will be addressed through a structured resolution process, potentially involving a third-party mediator.

 

10. Other Considerations

 

•  Ethical Compliance: Both parties adhere to the BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct, HCPC Standards, and NHS-aligned policies, including equality, diversity, and inclusion.

•  Conflicts of Interest: Any dual relationships (e.g., personal connections) must be disclosed and managed.

•  Complaints: Issues should first be discussed directly; if unresolved, escalate to Abantu Therapy’s management or professional bodies (e.g., BPS, HCPC).

•  Insurance and Liability: The Supervisee must maintain professional indemnity insurance. The Supervisor does not hold clinical responsibility for overseen work.

•  CPD Integration: Supervision contributes to the Supervisee’s CPD requirements.

 

This agreement is not legally binding but serves as a professional commitment. It may be amended by mutual consent in writing. For any questions, consult BPS or HCPC resources.