Setting up a contract

  1. Detail the members of the group
  1. Details of the meetings, for example the frequency, time, venue and duration of the sessions
  1. Aims and goals of supervision
  1. Confidentiality and accountability
  • Confidentiality is paramount. Exceptions to this would be in situations of unsafe practice affecting patients and/or staff. Following discussion, the group needs to agree who will take action, and by when in these situations
  1. Record Keeping
  • A log of the meetings should be kept
  • Whether a record of the content of the session is kept at all, needs to bediscussed. If records are to be kept, decisions about who writes and keeps the record need to be made. Records are confidential to the supervisee
  1. Responsibilities of the supervisor/supervisee
  • Who books the room?
  • Who brings notes of agreed actions from previous meeting?
  1. Commitment to the group
  • Discussion needs to take place about when it is OK to cancel or reschedule meetings. How much notice is required, how will contact be made etc?
  • If in a group negotiate how will you prioritise the topic for discussion?
  1. Your supervisee may want to a meeting at short notice to discuss something urgently in between planned sessions – so agree how this would happen
  1. Review date and signatures
  • A date to review the contract needs to be agreed. However, the contract may be reviewed at any time to add items, or when group members are not upholding agreements contained in the contract

SAMPLE CLINICAL SUPERVISION CONTRACT (NHS LOTHIAN, 2016)

1 / Members of the group:
2 / Meetings:
  • Frequency of meetings:
  • Time of meetings:
  • Venue of meetings:
  • Duration of the sessions:

3 / Aims/Goals of Supervision:
4 / Confidentiality / Accountability:
5 / Record Keeping:
6 / Responsibilities of:
Supervisor
Supervisee
7 / Commitment:
8 / Other Contractual Issues Agreed:
9 / This Contract will be reviewed on……………………..or at anytime at the request of the supervisor/supervisee.(add signature lines as reqd)
Signed……………………………………….. Date……………………….
Signed……………………………………….. Date……………………….

NHS Lothian (2016) Clinical Supervision Preparation for the role ofclinical supervisor