Find a Clinical Supervisor
Information on choosing your clinical supervisorAbout finding a clinical supervisor
ACSA is now offering an Australia-wide database on clinical supervisors from within our membership. Although there is still no formalised multidisciplinary agreement in Australia on how potential clinical supervisors should be educated, assessed, and accredited, ACSA believes it is timely to respond to the many requests we have received from professionals to find a clinical supervisor in their area. We are still working on researching a generic clinical supervision assessment tool that will assist us in articulating the core skill set of a clinical supervisor. We believe that an accreditation process needs to have a clear and transparent multidisciplinary consensus, and we hope to put that into place, once research is complete.
In the meantime, ACSA is not in a position to recommend any specific person’s competence or skills. However, we do recommend that potential clinical supervisees make contact with our members on the ACSA Clinical Supervisor Database and make their own assessments. We have included some tips below to help you make that assessment.
What to look for in a clinical supervisor
In the absence of any current multidisciplinary accreditation process, ACSA can offer some informed insights on what to look for in a potential clinical supervisor. Importantly, the supervisor you choose is one with whom you feel comfortable, and whom you feel you can eventually trust. Research indicates that the supervisory or learning alliance is the most crucial determinant of satisfaction with clinical supervision, and that trustworthiness is the most important feature of the supervisory relationship. It is also important that your supervisor understands the process of clinical supervision, from having participated in their own supervision, and is continuing to engage with it.
We recommend that your clinical supervisor should have preparation in the role of supervisor, which includes being in the role of supervisee. ACSA has prepared a short summary of some attributes to bear in mind, when making your decision in choosing a clinical supervisor.
Some attributes of a ‘good enough’ clinical supervisor
- Can form a bond based on safety and respect.
- Understands the process of supervision.
- Can articulate a supervision model.
- Has undergone training in the role.
- Shows interest in your professional growth.
- Engages in their own clinical supervision.
- Has credible professional experience.
- You feel comfortable with her or him.
Feel free to refer to our FAQs and do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or queries.
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