Professional Experience Placement

Effective supervision for the helping professions by Michael Carroll (2014)  is a useful resource for clinical supervisors.  Although it is written for the US market, the principles discussed are universal.  It is a book that can be used for intra professional learning as the title suggests, it is for the helping professions.  The early chapters frame the role and function of supervisor and provides background to the development of the supervisory role, including the nexus of theory and practical application. There is a chapter on forming the supervisory relationship, including tips and examples about the process. There is discussion about support of the learner and ethics and professional conduct. There are chapters on the supervisor as a learner and about critical reflection.  There is also a chapter that outlines the role of the organisation in the supervisory context. Chapter 10 resonates for me, it describes the 6 lenses of reflective supervision.  This chapter describes this 360 degree approach whereby the supervisor views the relationship and process from 6 stances: me; observer; you and me=us; you and me+ others; me (internalise) and other (universal).  These attitudes or lenses can be examined using nine general categories that include: description; learning; transactional analysis; result; strategy; positives and negatives; blocks and example of reflection using this lens. This process can provide a guide for decision-making and not all phases will be used each time.  Supervisors need to consider what is an appropriate level of reflection for connection with the learner and the learning. Overall, this book provides a comprehensive guide to the complex role of being a clinical supervisor.

The Clinical Placement by Tracy Levett-Jones and Sharon Bourgeois (2011) provides detailed information for students going into clinical placement. These authors address the process of professional experience by describing the rules of engagement in complex clinical environments.  It provides information about what to expect and how to navigate this process.  Later chapters provide information on the complex of relationships found in the clinical environment; the culture; and how to behave.  There are tips on how to maximise learning; how to learn successfully and reflect on experiences presented. There is also a chapter on professionalism. The final chapter provides perspectives from a range of clinicians including learning activities.  This book assists students and supervisors to understand their role and how to effectively maximise the potential of this learning environment.

Both these  books are useful resources for students and clinicians to gain an insight into the relationships of learner and learning.  The books provide information from different lenses and can assist both the student and supervisor to understand the complexities that both clinicians and learners face when learning and teaching in the dynamic and rich world of the clinical environment.  I urge anyone involved with supervision to browse these titles as they are useful to prompt memories about the learning process or reinvigorate your own journey as a learner and teacher of students.  If you have any comments or suggestions of other resources that would  be useful for clinical supervisors, Please post them here.  Please join us @PEPCommunity.