co-design supervision is:

• a relationship

• confidential

• a chance to reflect

• about supporting you in your practice

• grounded in justice-doing

• part of practising accountability

• an important part of ethical and accountable work

• an established practice in social care

co-design supervision isn’t:

• therapy

• doing your work for you

• being your boss

• endorsing your work as ‘best practice’

Sources:

Reynolds, V. (2012). An ethical stance for justice-doing in community work and therapy.

Rod Baxter & Trissel Eriksen (2022) Supervision Scrapbook: A resource for youth workers. Third Edition

Carroll, M. (2014). Effective Supervision for the Helping Professions (2nd ed.). London, England: Sage.

• come as you are

• talk a lot: this is your space

• show emotion or not: all of your energies and emotions are welcome

• take a pause, stand-up or step away

• change the session focus during the session

• draw, make things or use other practices

• find a different supervisor

• bring in intuition, spirituality, ancestors and other guides

• swear (if that’s your thing)

During our first session, we’ll generally explore:

• our backgrounds and values

• some of the functions of supervision

• your learning style (using visuals)

• past supervision experiences (if any)

• your role or roles

• hopes and expectations

• how we’ll work together

• something you’d like to bring to supervision during the first session

If you’d like to prepare for the session you might like to review the diagram below functions of co-design supervision and/or use this Preparation for Supervision worksheet from Rod Baxter and Trissel Eriksen.

It can be helpful to have regular sessions.

Some people like to prepare for supervision. Others do their thinking during the session. Do what is accessible to you.

If you’d like to prepare for the session you might like to review the diagram below functions of co-design supervision and/or use this Preparation for Supervision worksheet from Rod Baxter and Trissel Eriksen.

Taking time, taking care and taking accountability. I commit to:

Offering non-judgemental support and solidarity.

Taking time for celebration, noticing your strengths and progress (no matter how small).

Being in the expertise together: We each bring expertise into the relationship. You know your context.

Supporting ethical, inclusive and dignified design practice. I support practitioners to work in ways that are liberating and dignified for everyone involved. This is based on my 'mindsets for co-design', the Model of Care for Co-design, Research Justice and the Design Justice Principles, of which I am a signatory. Where I’m curious about the potential for greater ethics, inclusion or dignity in your practice, I will bring that to you clearly and compassionately.