The current membership of the SF includes members of PSC and PCC and individuals from the original working party who nominated themselves, keen to help develop the work of the forum. The membership of the forum will reconstitute to best represent its ongoing remit and work and will continue to represent BACP membership. In addition, members can contribute to the forum in number of ways. For example, BACP’s current series of Regional Roadshows includes a supervision seminar where participants can explore supervision expectations, issues, myths and misperceptions. Members can also contribute through BACP’s supervision pages on their website – where you are now reading this! We will regularly update the site and regularly respond to discussion threads. In addition, we will post articles and member contributions (with their permission of course!) for information and debate.

BACP recognises that as a profession we need to develop a better grasp of supervision requirements and conditions. Furthering our understanding will be a complex and challenging process. For instance, different helping approaches adopt differing attitudes and approaches to practitioner supervision. Given the complexity and diversity that exists, research is essential in order to critically comprehend supervision’s identity, validity, role and scope. Part of BACP’s response has been to commission Professor Sue Wheeler to produce a second edition of her scoping study. Other areas for development include expanding our knowledge of members’ supervision, as well as the data held on the range, content and scope of supervisor training.

One development to report is the forthcoming appointment of a Project Manager who will take responsibility, along with CPD, for supervision. As a core member of BACP staff, they will work with the Supervision Forum to take forward BACP’s supervision agenda.

With the formation of the Supervision Forum, exciting and challenging processes are underway - not least of these the development of events, including workshops, CPD activities and a conference associated with supervision. So, as they say, watch this space! - and please send in your contributions!

We value your feedback and actively welcome your comments and opinions on this subject. To make a contribution via email please contact Danusia Shepherd at BACP.

Alternatively, if you are a BACP member you can make a contribution via the BACP bulletin boards. Click here and you will be taken to the Members Area of the website. When in the Members Area, click on ’Bulletin boards’ on the list on the left. When on the bulletin boards page, select ’Committees & Divisions’ from the drop-down menu on the left. Then click on the ’Supervision’ board link at the bottom of the list.

Lynne Gabriel, July 2005
Chair, Supervision Forum