Kia ora everyone. It’s good to connect with you. The Reflective Learning Model of Supervision has been, for me, a truly transformative anchor in social work. If you’re a social worker in Aotearoa, you’ll know our mahi often plunges us into complex spaces. Especially in places like a busy hospital. We carry a lot, don’t we?
Professional supervision is never just a box to tick, trust me. And this particular model? It’s less about being told what to do and more about truly exploring, together, what’s happening in our practice. It helps us grow from the inside out.
When I first properly engaged with the Reflective Learning Model of Supervision, what struck me was its core idea: supervision as a learning process, driven by our own experiences (Davys & Beddoe, 2020). It makes so much sense, doesn’t it?
Real understanding, real growth, comes from grappling with our lived experiences. We reflect on them, turn them over, and then, crucially, apply what we’ve learned. This isn’t just for those fresh out of university. Not at all. It’s a continuous journey, a part of our professional lives from the very beginning right through to the end. Our work is rarely straightforward.
This model, I’ve found, gives us the framework to navigate that inherent messiness. It encourages us to embrace the possibilities in our practice, rather than just chasing one ‘right’ answer. A truly powerful shift, I think.
Why Reflection Matters More Than You Think
Reflection. We hear that word a lot, don’t we? But it’s more than just a quick mental replay of your day. It’s about digging deeper. It’s about building genuine insight into yourself. And, of course, into your practice. This is what truly drives us towards better outcomes for the people we work with. Without proper reflection, our practice can become, well, just a bit mindless. Going through the motions. And who wants to be doing that? I certainly don’t.
“This example was created using AI tools to maintain confidentiality and protect sensitive information.”
I remember a case, maybe seven or eight years ago. I was working with a family, really complex dynamics, here at the hospital. I felt… stuck. And a bit embarrassed, to be honest. I just wanted my supervisor to tell me what to do. To give me the answer. But she didn’t. Instead, she guided me.
Using the Reflective Learning Model, we started to unpack my assumptions. To really notice what was happening. Both around me, and, just as importantly, inside me. It hit me then: our own worldview, our own filters, can really shape what we see. That’s why having another perspective, an ‘other’, is so vital. Someone to gently challenge those filters. That’s how real, lasting learning happens. Because true learning, it seems to me, occurs as much between people as it does within us.
This model really pushes us to examine the space between what we say we do and what we actually do. It asks us to lean into the emotional side of our work. Ours, and our clients’. But it’s in that discomfort, when we allow ourselves to ‘be unsettled’ and embrace the uncertainty, that real growth takes root. It’s a completely different approach from those who fear uncertainty. They often see it as a weakness. I see it as a rich opportunity for learning.
The Reflective Learning Cycle: How We Actually Do It
So, the Reflective Learning Model of Supervision isn’t just theory. It gives us a really clear structure. We move through four main stages: the Event, the Exploration, the Experimentation, and the Evaluation. We work through this cycle for each topic brought to supervision. It’s a structured, yet wonderfully adaptable, way of working.
The Event: Where We Begin
This is the starting point. You bring the most pressing issue to the table. And you explain “why” it’s important for you to discuss it. What do you hope to resolve? How do you want to tackle it? This often means ‘telling the story’ of the experience. Allowing your thoughts and feelings about it to simply emerge.
As a supervisor, my role here is to help you describe the situation clearly. To reconnect with it, but without getting so absorbed that we lose our way. I’ve found that starting our sessions with a genuine ‘how are you?’ or perhaps acknowledging a Māori principle like āta noho – taking time, being present – really helps set the tone.
It creates a safe space. A place where those sometimes tricky, even painful, insights can surface. This focus on connection, on mutual respect, also acts as a safeguard. It helps stop us from just agreeing for agreement’s sake, avoiding the difficult truths. We’ve all been there, haven’t we?
Exploration: Digging for Gold
Once the event is out there, we dive into exploration. This is where reflection truly takes flight. We look at the impact of everything: the events themselves, your actions, the interactions involved.
How did they affect you? And how did you, as the social worker, influence that situation? It’s about placing yourself squarely within that moment. Really understanding what went on. This isn’t about applying a rigid rulebook. No. It’s about uncovering that intuitive wisdom, that gut feeling, that underpins our practice.
But that intuition? It needs to be balanced. It needs to be critiqued alongside thoughtful analysis and, when it’s there, concrete information. I’ve noticed, particularly with new social workers, that there can be a bit of impatience during this deeper reflection.
They often just want quick answers. It’s understandable. My role then is to offer that vital support. To help them understand the setting, set priorities, and learn to reflect on their own practice. It’s a delicate dance between guiding and teaching.
Experimentation: Giving It a Go
This is where things get really interesting. We take all those insights from our reflection and analysis, and we turn them into action plans. It’s about actively trying out new approaches. It’s never enough just to understand something intellectually, is it? We need to actually put it into practice. Even if it feels a little daunting. This phase helps us mould our theoretical knowledge. To fit our practice to the often complex and ‘messy shapes’ of social work today.
I recall a social worker I was supervising. She was genuinely stuck with a client who was, frankly, very demanding. Through our supervision, we slowly unpicked the dynamics. Her emotional responses. The ‘experimentation’ then involved her trying a slightly different communication strategy. She focused on validating the client’s feelings *first*, rather than immediately trying to problem-solve. It seemed like such a tiny adjustment.
But the impact, both for her and the client, was profound. It wasn’t me handing her a solution. It was *her* solution. Discovered through her own careful, guided reflection. That’s the true beauty of this stage.
Evaluation: Learning and Moving Forward, Always
The final stage brings us right back around. We evaluate the outcome of our experiment. What worked? What didn’t? What new insights have surfaced? This completes one full cycle. And those fresh experiences? They immediately feed into the next round of reflection.
This continuous loop is how we truly grow and evolve as practitioners. It’s how we transform raw experience into invaluable, practical knowledge. This constant learning is absolutely crucial.
It’s why the Reflective Learning Model of Supervision is so effective. It’s explicitly designed to be a lifelong process of professional development. Especially for new practitioners, truly valuing the learning that comes from our mistakes. That’s golden. It’s a continuous journey of ‘becoming’. Becoming what the ever-changing demands of our practice environment require of us.
My Experience: Weaving This Into My Daily Work
Working in a hospital, the speed of crisis can sometimes make us forget the space for reflection. But it’s exactly in those moments that reflection becomes our most powerful tool. The Reflective Learning Model helps us create that space, even when time feels like it’s slipping through our fingers. It’s about empowering the supervisee. Giving them the agency to define their own challenges. And to take real responsibility for their own learning journey.
When I provide supervision, I genuinely strive to be that facilitator. That ‘co-explorer’. I remember a supervisee, fairly new to the hospital, who was just swamped by the sheer volume of work. Overwhelmed. The model allowed us to systematically break down her experiences.
To reflect on her emotional responses to the pressure. And then, to experiment with fresh ways of managing her workload and, crucially, her professional boundaries. It wasn’t me providing solutions. It was about *her* discovering them. Through our guided reflection. That, to me, is the real magic of this model. It’s truly empowering.
For us, as social workers, this model resonates deeply. It’s incredibly powerful because it genuinely acknowledges the ‘complexity, diversity, and emotionality of situations’ we face. It moves us beyond rigid, ‘rule-governed’ practice, which can feel incredibly limiting, especially when you’re starting out. It helps us make truly informed decisions. Avoiding those knee-jerk, defensive reactions. Ultimately, it’s about cultivating a deeper, more personal, and more ethical understanding of the incredibly important work we do.
Final Thoughts: Embracing the Reflective Journey, Together
The Reflective Learning Model of Supervision. It’s so much more than just a framework. It’s an open invitation. An invitation to a lifelong journey of professional learning and personal growth. It fundamentally shifts the supervisor’s role. From being ‘the expert’ with all the answers, to being ‘the facilitator’ who creates the space for learning to truly bloom. It ensures that reflection isn’t just ‘self-indulgent navel-gazing’. No. It’s a clear, structured process. A process that leads to new understandings. And robust knowledge for our practice. It’s about becoming the best social worker we can be, day by day.
So, if you’re considering supervision, or perhaps looking to deepen your current supervisory practice, I wholeheartedly encourage you. Take a closer look at this model. It’s a truly potent tool for navigating the ever-evolving landscape of social work. It fosters deep learning. And it ensures we remain responsive, ethical, and effective practitioners. Ultimately, it’s about making sure all this valuable learning is ‘contained, valued, and transported right into practice’. That’s what makes the real difference.
What are your experiences with reflective supervision? Or what thoughts does this bring up for you? I’d genuinely love to hear your perspectives in the comments below. Let’s keep this kōrero going.
Do you want to make the most of your supervision session? Please read the article below.
Davys, A., & Beddoe, L. (2020). Best Practice in Professional Supervision, Second Edition: A Guide for the Helping Professions. Jessica Kingsley
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