Guidelines and Requirements on Standards of Education and Training (SETs) For UKCP College of Hypno-psychotherapists Accredited Supervision Trainings for Adult Client Work

1. Introduction

1.1         UKCP historically has agreed principles on which to base its Training Standards and policies to regulate them across all psychotherapeutic modalities. These principles and policies concern the Council’s Training Standards Committee, the Colleges’ Training Standards Committees and Accreditation Committees, and the individual Training Organisations that devise and run psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling training courses leading to registration with the Council.
1.2         Basic Training Standards were established in 1993 and published as ‘Training Requirements of UKCP’. A Regulatory Framework to integrate the Training Standards with Training Outcomes was agreed in 2001 and published as UKCP Training Standards: Policy and Principles.
1.3         This document aims to make clear the route by which qualified and experienced practitioners can reach College accreditation and formal registration as a UKCP Supervisor for adult client work through the Training Route.
1.4         Purpose: The primary purpose of supervision is to enhance the professional development of the supervisee so as to ensure the best possible psychotherapeutic practice for their client. To this end supervision should perform the functions of education, support, and evaluation against the norms and standards of the profession and of society. This is the case irrespective of employment arrangements and applies both in private and public service.
1.5         Supervision often can also contribute towards a gate-keeping process that allows for the recognition of certain situations, e.g. burnout, (where because of the supervisee’s physical, mental, or emotional state it is unsuitable for them to work with clients); lack of clinical capacity to deal with the client’s issues, etc.
1.6         The development of these standards is essential for Colleges where their Member Organisations (OMs) wish to run supervision training courses and put forward accredited supervisors to be placed on the UKCP Register of Supervisors for Adult Psychotherapy and Adult Psychotherapeutic Counselling or where the Member Organisation (OM) is an accrediting organisation solely for the purpose of putting suitably qualified practitioners to the register of supervisors.
1.7         The development of these standards establishes the requirement for Colleges to work towards the inclusion of OM Supervision Training Courses in College course approval and quinquennial review processes where the course and / or accreditation processes of the OM is intended to put forward accredited supervisors to the UKCP Register of Supervisors.
1.8         Please see the list at the end of this document for the correct titles of other UKCP documents relating to minimum generic guidelines and requirements for education and training standards of supervision and routes to supervisor accreditation, including specific documents relating to working with children.

2. Course Requirements

2.1 All training courses must publish:

1 Selection criteria

2. Selection procedures

3 Selection Appeals procedures

4 APL and APEL procedures

5 Codes of Ethics for trainers, supervisors, supervisor trainees

6 Codes of Conduct and Practice for trainers, supervisors and supervisor trainees

7 Diversity and Equality Policy and Procedures, including addressing these issues in the curriculum specifically

8 A Curriculum and course Learning Outcomes

9 Written and practical course requirements

10 Assessment procedures and assessment appeals procedures

11 Staff / trainers appointment procedures

12 Staff / trainers names, relevant qualifications and relevant professional memberships

2.2 All training courses must:

a) Where the course is intended to train appropriately qualified practitioners to supervise work with children as well as adults – the training programme must include all those additional elements as specified in the current Guidelines for Supervisors published by the UKCP Psychotherapy with Children Committee (PwCC);

b) Contain both theoretical teaching and supervised supervision as components required to achieve the competences of a supervisor;

c) Reflect responsibility for transparency and accountability as relevant and important in the training and in the practice of supervision;

d) Cover more than one theoretical model of supervision

e) Include at least one form of assessment of work with a supervisee and one piece of written work exploring the theory and practice of supervision;

f) Include production / presentation of a short written model of their Supervision Framework including style, approach and understanding of supervision and reflection on practice (we recommend that this should be no more than 1.5 to 2 sides of A4 typed);

2.3 The procedures, policies and requirements of the supervision training course should satisfy the minimum requirements and guidelines set out in this and allied documents relating to registration as a UKCP Supervisor of Psychotherapeutic Counsellors and/or a UKCP Supervisor of Psychotherapists.

2.4 Identify and specify the personal and professional qualities, background and previous experience that make candidates suitable for training in the profession of psychotherapeutic supervisor.

2.5 All requirements, policy, procedures and practice must demonstrate adherence, content and positive intent to diversity and equality best practice.

2.6 Minimum Compulsory Entry Requirements to Training:

2.6.1 Relevant UKCP professional qualification or UKCP recognised professional equivalent.

2.6.2 UKCP Registrant of good standing or UKCP recognised professional equivalent.

2.6.3 Normally, at least 5 years’ experience of work with clients as a psychotherapeutic practitioner or the equivalent of approximately 1560 hours, which means an average of 6 clients over 5 years.

2.6.4 Normally, at least three years of this experience must be post-registration as a UKCP Psychotherapist, Psychotherapeutic Counsellor or UKCP recognised professional equivalent.
2.6.5 Multiple Registration:

a. Where Supervisors wish to be registered to supervise practitioners working with children and adults they must fulfil the requirements set out in the current UKCP supervision documents that relate to each client group.

b.    Where Supervisors wish to be registered to supervise practitioners from both the Psychotherapeutic Counselling and Psychotherapy Registers they must have an equivalence of qualification or reasonably wide experience of the work and contexts of the professional group being supervised.

3       Learning Outcomes (recommended for training course routes leading to registration as a UKCP Supervisor):

3.1.1     Demonstrates an ability to foster an open, trusting working alliance with supervisees in which the supervisee is confident to reveal the difficulties and challenges within his/her work.
3.1.2     Is able to demonstrate fulfilment of the following aspects of the supervision role:

a. Supportive – providing affirmation of good practice, colleagueship in assisting the supervisee in handling the difficulties and challenges encountered in their practice.

b. Educative – using coaching skills, or aspects of mentoring to enlarge the supervisee’s theoretical knowledge and to highlight areas for further training.

c. Normative – upholding standards, values and principles of good professional practice, guiding and supporting supervisee in addressing ethical issues, balancing needs of supervisee and client, addressing issues of safety and appropriate conduct.

3.1.3     Demonstrates ability to match the style of the supervision to the experience and individual needs of the supervisee, with a particular emphasis on demonstrating understanding and capability to work with diversity and equality considerations and issues.
3.1.4     Is able to work with different ways of evidencing the supervisee’s practice according to OM and College specific methodologies, such as CD-Rom, audio or video tapes, transcripts, ‘live’ supervision etc., and to request these as appropriate, with due regard to equalities considerations.
3.1.5     Shows an ability to recognise specific abilities as well as limits of the supervisee, these may be socio-cultural, temperamental, physical or exist within the context of the supervisee’s life.
3.1.6     Demonstrates an ability to work with differences in relation to supervisees and show a similar awareness and capability within their own understanding.
3.1.7     Demonstrates an ability to understand and critique work from the standpoint of the client, the therapist and the supervisor. Recognise and be able to work with the parallel systems, processes and transferential or similar processes among these and the environment as applicable to the modality approach(es) to supervision.
3.1.8     Demonstrates an understanding of why and how supervision requires knowledge, experience and skills in addition to those required by a qualified psychotherapeutic practitioner.
3.1.9     Demonstrates an ability to understand the principles, values and ethical issues particular to the practices of psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling which need to be understood, communicated and adhered to.
3.1.10 Reflects responsibility for transparency and accountability as relevant and important in the training and in the practice of supervision.

4. Ethics & Practice

4.1 Supervisors registered with UKCP are required to abide by the existing codes appropriate to them. Section four contains UKCP guidelines and recommendations from which UKCP Colleges and OMs are recommended to formulate their own codes. Please note these may relate to the individual supervisor, the trainee supervisor and the training organisation.

4.2 All supervisors are to be bound by Codes of Ethics, Conduct and Practice appropriate to them through their UKCP OM (if they belong to one) and UKCP College.

4.3 Supervisors should conduct themselves in a way that is consistent with the dignity, status, values and principles of the profession and of UKCP.

4.4 Supervisors shall seek to establish the highest ethical standards and shall hold the interests of the clients to be paramount.

4.5 Supervisors may not supervise beyond their training and experience.

4.6 Supervisors are responsible for maintaining and developing their skills through appropriate Continued Professional Development.

4.7 Supervisors are responsible for monitoring and maintaining their physical, mental and emotional health in relation to their fitness to practice.

4.8     Professional Considerations:
a.    Supervisors are expected to manage their work in a professional manner. For example, are expected to disclose their qualifications when requested and not claim, or imply, qualifications that they do not have.
b.    Supervisors need to consider whether their approach to the work is appropriate for a particular supervisee and be prepared to make referrals at any stage in the work if that appears to be in the supervisee’s and / or client interest.
c.    Supervisors should use such experiences to help them identify their own further training needs.
d.    There is a distinction between line management supervision and psychotherapeutic supervision. Best practice is normally that the same person should not act as both line manager and psychotherapeutic supervisor to the same supervisee.
e.    Where this (d. above) is unavoidable, clear written guidelines should be in place covering the remit of each role and specifying procedure for any disputes or conflicting situations arising.
f.     Supervisors must define and maintain a consistent working environment with clear boundaries. For example: Supervisors must make clear the boundaries of time and space, explain the arrangements for payment of fees at the outset and give adequate notice of any changes or planned breaks.
g.    It is considered best practice for supervisors and their supervisees to agree a contract that makes clear the expectations and requirements they have of each other. If the contract is verbal, the supervisor should keep a note of the agreed contract and the date it was made.
h.    It is considered best practice to have a policy regarding giving references and any fees that may be charged for this or any other work done outside the session time.
i.      When working with trainees the boundaries of the supervisor’s responsibility and accountability to their supervisees and the agency / training should be clarified, preferably in writing.
j.      Trainings would normally be expected to keep a record of the name, qualifications, professional body and contact details of supervisors seeing trainees including placement supervisors where relevant.
k.    This is compulsory for all supervisors designated as training supervisors for the purpose of acquisition of supervised practice hours by the trainee including placement supervisors where relevant.
l.      Supervisors must not exploit the dependence of the supervisee in the supervisory relationship sexually, financially, or in any other manner.
m.   Supervisors must have adequate insurance cover for their work.
n.    Supervisors should discuss with supervisees the need to have arrangements in place to take care of the immediate needs of clients in the event of a sudden and unplanned ending to the therapy relationship that is being supervised. This would include a “professional will” where appropriate to the modality or the practitioner (UKCP recommends the use of a ‘professional will’).
o.    It is good practice for the supervisor to ensure they are informed by the supervisee of the arrangements made for n. above.
p.    Supervisors are responsible for similar safeguards for their own practice.
q.    Confidentiality: As a general principle, supervisors must not reveal confidential material concerning the supervisee or their clients to any other person without the express consent (preferably in writing) of all parties concerned. Safeguarding exceptions are understood and may apply, these should be noted in detail.

4.9 Issues of Responsibility:
a.    Within a contract supervisors are responsible for helping supervisees to reflect upon their work, while at the same time acknowledging that clinical responsibility remains with the supervisee.
b.    Where the supervisee is a trainee normally at least, joint clinical responsibility would be understood to be shared between the supervisor and the trainee. Guidelines would ideally be created for students on placements and placement supervisors in a similar manner.
c.    It is important that those supervisors seeing supervisees who work with children are aware of the additional responsibilities and legal expectations the, supervision role may entail. (Please see the UKCP PwCC Supervision documents on working with children).
d.    Supervisors must recognise and work in ways that respect the value and dignity of supervisees, their clients and the context of the work.
e.    Good regard should be given to equality and diversity issues and considerations such as origin, status, race, culture, gender, age, beliefs, sexual orientation and disability.
f.     (4.8.c-e. above) Should include raising awareness of potential interventions for working effectively with diversity and equalities issues as they arise in the work.
g.    (4.8.c-e. above) Must include raising awareness of any discriminatory practices that may exist between the supervisee and their clients, or between the supervisor and supervisee.

4.10 Legal Liabilities:
a.    Supervisors must ensure that together with their supervisees, they consider their legal liabilities to each other, to the employing or training organisation, if any, and to the clients.
b.    The supervisor is responsible for clarifying the legal liabilities from an informed position, and seeking legal guidance when necessary including seeking advice from College / UKCP when necessary and as appropriate.
c.    Supervisors are responsible for taking action if they are aware that their supervisee’s practice is not in accordance with relevant Codes of Ethics, Conduct and Practice.
d.    It is important that those supervisors seeing supervisees who work with children are aware of the additional responsibilities and legal expectations your supervision role may entail. (Please see the UKCP PwCC Supervision documents on working with children).
e.    Supervisors are responsible for helping their supervisees recognise when, in their opinion, their functioning as practitioners or trainee practitioners is impaired due to personal or emotional difficulties, any condition that affects judgement, illness, the influence of alcohol or drugs, or for any other reason, and for ensuring that the appropriate action is taken.
f.     Supervisors are required to refrain from behaviour that may be detrimental to the public, clients, the profession, colleagues, supervisees or the members and / or organs of UKCP.

4.11 Advertising:
a.    Where they choose to advertise their services, supervisors are expected to advertise services with descriptive rather than evaluative statements.
b.    The media should not be used in any way that would bring the profession, or the members and / or organs of UKCP into disrepute.

Acknowledgement: Please note these guidelines are the culmination of work done by several organisations and individuals within and without the UKCP over a number of years across several modalities. All the contributors known and unknown, are thanked for their thoughts, ideas, efforts and contributions.

Documents
Training Standard of UKCP - 1993
UKCP Training Standards: Policy and Principles – 2001
Psychotherapy with Children; UKCP Guidelines for Training -2003
Psychotherapy with Children; Principles, Aims and Guidelines for Training -2007

UKCP Standards of Education and Training: Policy and Principles— currently going through process of approval at SB and adoption at BOT