Supervisors

Supervision is a key activity which will determine the success of the IAPT programme. Training for IAPT supervisors is based on a competency framework developed specifically for the programme.

Trainees and qualified staff delivering high or low intensity interventions through IAPT services should be supervised with:

  • a minimum of one hour of individual supervision weekly with an experienced and trained supervisor working within the IAPT service
  • occasional group supervision with longer sessions

Clinical supervisors should have a working knowledge and experience of the interventions they are supervising.

They should supervise five trainees individually for a minimum of one hour a week (for full-time staff), with sufficient time to undertake the role and access to peer/group support and continuing professional development.  Five-day courses for supervisors are available in some areas.

A named senior therapist should oversee and monitor the effectiveness of the supervision, with the service's Clinical and Course Directors.  Appropriate governance arrangements should be in place, including honorary contracts for university-based supervisors where appropriate.

Supervision should review ongoing clinical cases every 2-4 weeks, looking at case management and  individual clients' outcome measures.  All staff should also have routine professional and management supervision.

High Intensity trainees should also receive additional in-depth supervision of training cases at college, usually in groups of two to three trainees for around 1.5 hours per week.

PWP trainees should also receive individual and group supervision, for around an hour a fortnight, to discuss assessment, risk issues and clinical decisions to step up treatment to high intensity, discharge or refer on to specialist services.

Download:

IAPT Supervision Guidance (Revised March 2011) Professors Graham Turpin and Sue Wheeler (University of Sheffield and University of Leicester).
SHA Briefing Document: Guidance for Commissioning IAPT Supervisor Training (Revised 2011)