Supervision Contract
This contract outlines the terms and conditions governing the supervision relationship between the Supervisor and the Supervisee. By entering this contract, both parties agree to abide by the following terms:
Membership and Ethical Framework
The Supervisee must be a member of a recognized professional body such as the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR), British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), National Counselling and Psychotherapist Society (NCPS), National Hypnotherapy Society, or any other equivalent professional body. The Supervisee is required to abide by the ethical framework of their respective body. This also applies to students working towards membership.
Professional Conduct During Supervision
Both parties agree to maintain a high standard of professional conduct throughout the supervisory relationship, including punctuality, engagement, and respect for each other's perspectives and experiences.
Insurance Requirements
The Supervisee must hold professional indemnity insurance to cover their practice. If the Supervisee is working within an agency, it is the responsibility of the agency to ensure the Supervisee is covered under the agency’s insurance.
Practicalities Regarding Supervision
Supervision sessions will be held regularly, as required by the Supervisee’s professional body (e.g., 1.5 hours per month). It is the responsibility of the Supervisee to ensure that their supervision arrangements meet the requirements of their professional body. If the Supervisee practices in multiple disciplines (e.g., both hypnotherapy and counselling), they may require dual supervision to meet the specific requirements for each field. This could involve separate supervision sessions (e.g., 1.5 hours for each discipline). If the Supervisee’s client numbers increase, additional supervision may be required. This will be negotiated between the Supervisor and Supervisee during the course of the contract. It is the Supervisee’s responsibility to inform the Supervisor of any changes in their client load or circumstances that may affect the supervision arrangement. The Supervisee must ensure that they seek the appropriate level of supervision in accordance with their professional body’s requirements. The Supervisor is not liable for any consequences arising from actions taken by the Supervisee. Advice provided by the Supervisor is to be followed at the Supervisee’s discretion. If required by their professional body, the Supervisee may need to attend supervision even when not seeing clients. In these cases, the sessions may focus on business issues, personal development, or other relevant topics. These sessions will be charged at the regular rate and will be held at the same frequency as normal client-related supervision. While the Supervisor will initiate the supervision contract, the Supervisee is expected to participate in discussions about scheduling, previous supervisory experiences, goals, theoretical approaches, skill development, and learning needs.
Fees and Reports
All fees are agreed upon during the first session. The fees may be renegotiated upon contract renewal. If the Supervisee requires any reports, these will incur an additional fee of £40 per report. In the event that reports are required by the Supervisee’s college, university, or professional body, the Supervisee will be responsible for meeting the expense of preparing and submitting those reports.
Confidentiality and Data Protection
All supervision sessions will be conducted in strict confidence. Any client information shared will be anonymized, and supervision records will be stored in accordance with data protection laws (e.g., GDPR). The supervisor may share anonymised information about their work as a supervisor within their own supervision sessions. Otherwise, the Supervisor will not share any information discussed during sessions unless legally required or with the consent of the Supervisee.
College / Professional Disclosure Policy
The Supervisor reserves the right to contact the Supervisee’s college, university, or professional body at any time without prior notice to discuss concerns about the Supervisee’s fitness to practice. This may include concerns about academic integrity, professional conduct, or ethical behaviour. Such disclosures will be made in accordance with relevant policies and applicable regulations to safeguard the educational and professional process.
Late Payments
In the event of late payments, the matter will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. If necessary, a payment plan may be offered to assist the Supervisee with their monetary needs. However, any late payments that persist for an extended period may result in the supervisory sessions being placed in abeyance until the outstanding payment is made. If the payment remains overdue for a significant duration, this may lead to the termination of the contract.
Travel Expenditure
Each party is responsible for their own travel expenses related to supervision sessions. The Supervisee and the Supervisor agree that any travel costs incurred for in-person sessions will be met independently by each party, and no reimbursement will be required unless specifically agreed otherwise.
Breakdown in Online Supervision
In the event of a technical breakdown during online supervision (e.g., internet failure or other disruptions), an alternative means of communication will be sought. This may include switching to a telephone conversation or rescheduling the session as a face-to-face meeting, where possible. Both parties agree to remain flexible and responsive to ensure supervision continues effectively despite such interruptions.
Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy / Supervisor Sickness Clause
The Supervisee must provide at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule a session. If insufficient notice is given, the session fee will still be charged. If the Supervisor needs to cancel, every effort will be made to reschedule within a reasonable time frame.
If the Supervisor is unavailable due to illness or other reasons, an attempt will be made to reschedule the session within an agreed time frame. If a rescheduled session is not possible and supervision is urgently required, a temporary supervisor will be provided. The Supervisee will be responsible for scheduling, discussing costs, and making any necessary agreements with the temporary supervisor, whether arranged through their regular Supervisor or independently.
Review of Supervision
Both parties agree to conduct regular reviews of the supervision process, at least every six months, to assess the effectiveness of the supervisory relationship. During these reviews, feedback will be exchanged, and adjustments to the supervision plan may be made as needed to better meet the needs of the Supervisee.
Professional Development Plan
The Supervisee will create a professional development plan that outlines their goals and objectives for the duration of the supervision. This plan will be discussed and reviewed with the Supervisor to ensure alignment with professional standards and personal aspirations.
Emergency Protocols
In cases where immediate attention is needed due to a crisis involving a client, the Supervisee agrees to contact the Supervisor as soon as possible to discuss the situation. Both parties will have established emergency contact methods to ensure prompt communication during such events.
Supervisee’s Responsibilities in Emergency Situations
In cases of client emergencies, the Supervisee is responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of their clients and must follow established protocols for emergency response, including immediate contact with relevant authorities or support services if necessary.
Documentation of Sessions
The Supervisor will maintain records of each supervision session, including key discussion points, recommendations made, and any action items. The Supervisee will also be encouraged to keep their own notes. These records will be stored confidentially and in accordance with data protection regulations.
Governing Law and Jurisdiction
This contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the UK, and any disputes arising from it shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the UK.
Non-Disclosure Agreement
Both parties agree to maintain the confidentiality of all discussions and materials shared during supervision sessions. Any sensitive information will not be disclosed to third parties without the explicit consent of the other party, except as required by law.
Additional Fees
Any unscheduled meetings or urgent consultations that occur outside of the agreed supervision sessions will incur an additional fee of their usual amount per session. That is £40 per session.
Feedback Mechanism
A structured feedback mechanism will be established, allowing the Supervisee to provide input on the supervision process and the Supervisor’s methods i.e. informal discussions at the end of sessions.
Addressing Concerns
If any concerns arise regarding the Supervisee’s training or practice, these will first be discussed directly with the Supervisee. If needed, the Supervisor reserves the right to involve external parties such as professional bodies, tutors, or agencies, and the Supervisee will be informed unless confidentiality is required to protect the Supervisor or other parties. In cases where professional concerns arise, appropriate authorities may be notified, anonymously where necessary.
Acceptance of Feedback and Recommendations
The Supervisee agrees to accept reasonable and proportionate feedback and recommendations to maintain or improve professional standards. Specific directions for development, such as reflection or undertaking personal therapy, may also be required to maintain the supervisory relationship. Failure to comply with these directions may result in the termination of this contract. Failure to adhere to these recommendations may affect the content of reports or, for students, their course completion. In cases where professional concerns arise, appropriate authorities may be notified, anonymously where necessary.
Supervisee Responsibility for Professional Development
The Supervisee is encouraged to take an active role in their professional development by attending relevant workshops, courses, or other learning opportunities to enhance their practice. The Supervisor may provide guidance on areas of improvement or recommend specific resources, but the responsibility for ongoing development lies with the Supervisee.
Training and Development Resources
The Supervisor may provide resources, literature, and training recommendations to support the Supervisee’s development. These resources may include relevant articles, workshops, or other educational opportunities that align with the Supervisee’s goals.
Exit Strategy
In the event of contract termination, both parties will engage in a final meeting to summarize achievements and reflect on the supervisory experience. Any outstanding administrative tasks will also be addressed during this meeting to ensure a smooth transition. This will be void in the event of cases of professional misconduct.
Supervisee Accountability for Client Outcomes
While the Supervisor will provide guidance and advice, the Supervisee remains fully accountable for their own professional practice and client outcomes. The Supervisor is not liable for any actions taken by the Supervisee because of supervision.
Impact on Course Completion
Failure to meet the requirements or follow recommendations could result in the Supervisee receiving an unfavourable report or not passing their course.
Honesty and Transparency
The Supervisee commits to maintaining honesty and transparency throughout the supervision relationship. This includes disclosing challenges, ethical dilemmas, and any relevant personal or professional circumstances that may affect practice or supervision. A breach of trust by failing to disclose important information may result in the termination of the contract.
Termination of Contract
Either party may terminate this contract by providing 30 days' written notice. However, in cases of gross professional misconduct, the contract will be terminated immediately without prior notice. Reasons for termination can include, but are not limited to, changes in professional circumstances, irreconcilable differences in the supervisory relationship, or a failure to meet agreed-upon requirements. Any fees owed up to the date of termination will still be payable by the Supervisee.
Limitation of Liability
Both parties acknowledge that neither the Supervisor nor the Supervisee shall be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of or related to the supervision process, except in cases of gross negligence or wilful misconduct.
Acceptance of Terms
By signing this contract, both parties acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agree to the terms outlined above.
This contract remains in effect until terminated or renegotiated by either party in accordance with the terms agreed upon.