Introduction to Best Practice for Supervision – January 2024

Member price: $440.00 including GST (member price will display once logged in)

Non-member price: $733.00 including GST

Employer Partner Program price: $549.75 including GST

Live Online Workshop

Are you new to being a supervisor?

Are you seeking a supervisory role in the future?

Then this virtual workshop is for you!

Becoming a supervisor can be a daunting next step in your social work career. This introductory course will prepare you to provide best practice supervision, create a safe and reflective space, and support the professional learning and growth of those you supervise.

This virtual workshop series will equip you with contemporary knowledge, tools and skills and set you on a clear path to building your confidence and competence as a supervisor.

Pre-work and self-reflection (0.5 hours)

Participants are required to complete readings and self-reflections in preparation for each workshop session.

Day 1 (3.5 hours) -17 January 24

10.00am-1.30pm AEDT

The initial knowledge-based workshop presents evidence-based principles, models and tools that underpin safe and effective supervision practice. Participants will engage in a collaborative learning approach, via large and small group reflections and discussions. Various resources will be provided to participants including take-home tools and templates.

Day 2 (3.5 hours) - 24 January 24

10.00am-1.30pm AEDT

The follow up skills-based workshop builds on the first session through practical application and synthesis. Through an experiential learning approach, participants will delve into the supervisory role through case studies, live demonstration, observation, critical reflection and feedback.

Facilitated by a leader in social work practice and supervision, the course is designed to build foundational competence in social work supervision. It features a guest presentation by a well-known lived experience advocate who will promote and explain how ‘the personal is professional’.

Additional resources

A learning pack will be provided with the course materials including relevant literature, tools and templates.

Who should attend?

Recent or emerging social work supervisors or those seeking a pathway into a supervisory role. This course is also suitable for practitioners who have limited supervision experience and are looking to refresh their skillset and understanding of best practice. Allied health clinicians, nurses, case workers, counsellors and anyone seeking to build their supervisory knowledge and skills are also welcome.

AASW Credential: Supervision

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Describe contemporary approaches in best practice for supervision
• Create and maintain a safe and reflective space for supervisees
• Understand how supervision can strengthen and support lived experience
• Develop confidence in establishing and guiding the supervisory relationship
• Demonstrate how to prepare and apply skills in varied supervision contexts
• Recognise how to model practice leadership through supervision

Presenter details

Lead facilitator: John Hristoforidis

John is a highly experienced Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and an ANZAED Credentialed Eating Disorders Clinician whose experience spans across both Government and Non-Government organisations, and Private Practice including mental health, aged care, disabilities, marginalised, housing and homelessness. John has experience working in settings including inpatient, community, outpatient and outreach, as well as being a Health District Co-Ordinator and implementing a Local Health District Action Plan for a Statewide Health Stragegy. This included providing clincial leadership, consultation, clinical supervison, training and workforce development.

John has a Master's of Social Work Counselling and his work with individuals and families, as well as clinical supervision with social workers and other allied health professionals, tends to be grounded in relational theories of practice and trauma informed care. John draws on a range of therapeutic modalities and frameworks including Anti-Oppressive Practice, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, Family Based therapy, Narrative Therapy, Schema Therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, the Structural Dissociation Model and Systemic Family Therapy.

Throughout John's career, his fascination and interests with the complexities of mental health have led him to specialise in eating disorders, trauma and working with the LGBTIQ+ community. While John recognises the complex interplay and challenges of the mental health system and more broadly, the health system as a whole, this grounds his social work practice and drives his passion and dedication for social justice in Australia and around the world.