We are excited to launch our updated Supervisors Development Programme, designed to enable current and aspiring social care practice supervisors to develop confident, relational, and evidence-informed supervision skills.
Whether you are stepping into a middle leadership role, or looking to enhance your organisation's supervisory approach, this programme offers the tools, insights, and peer support to develop knowledge, skills and values in providing reflective supervision.
Supervisors Development Programme
Designed for practice supervisors. Our Supervisors Development Programme will develop reflective supervision skills and support critical thinking.
Combining theory, practice and culture, the five-day multi-organisational Supervisors Development Programme will support development and embed a culture of reflective, curious and relational supervision.
Aimed at those who have responsibility for supervising practitioners or influence an organisation's supervision culture, this programme will increase confidence in providing reflective supervision.
Programme outline
View a programme outline or listen to the programme overview.
What is new in the Supervisor Development Programme?
Sessions have been reviewed and updated, aligning with our new reflective supervision learning hub. The hub resources support practice supervisors to continue and embed their learning after the programme is finished.
- Your experiences of supervision: Reflect on your own experiences of supervision and understand how you can explore supervision history with supervisees. During the session, we introduce new principles of reflective supervision.
- Developing practice through observation and feedback: Develop your skills in observing direct practice, holding courageous conversations and reflecting on strengths and areas for development with supervisees.
- Group supervision: You will be able to facilitate and develop effective group supervision within your team, using the Intervision model.
- Taking your learning forward: Discuss how you can transfer learning to practice and across your system. You will be able to use supervision agreements to lead change and take forward learning from this programme.
Aimed at a wide range of practice supervisors or those in equivalent roles who have responsibility for supervising practitioners, or influence over the organisation's supervision culture.
You could be working as a social care practice supervisor working with adults, children and families, or their communities. For example, you may be a new manager who supervises the day-to-day work of other practitioners.
Booking places
The next wave of Leadership Development Programmes will begin in Spring 2026.
You can book onto an information session by registering interest in the programme. Information sessions will run on:
- Friday 21 November at 13.00
- Tuesday 2 December at 13.00
- Wednesday 14 January at 13.00
You can also contact us to arrange a conversation about the programmes.
About our Leadership Development Programmes
At Research in Practice, we have proven experience and skills in developing multi-level practice leadership programmes across various local authorities, trusts and wider organisations.
Our Leadership Development Programmes enable you to learn with others across multiple networks. The programmes also offer a cost-effective option for individuals, smaller organisations and for organisations who would benefit from the ability to pay per place.
Reflective supervision – How to put reflection at the heart of practice
How do we build a positive culture of supervision throughout our organisations? Explore a dedicated open access resource hub to support leaders and supervisors.
Supervision can improve critical thinking and decision-making skills, support with the emotional demands of practice and increase job satisfaction and staff wellbeing. Crucially it can also help practitioners focus on outcomes that matter to people who draw on care and support.
Use an open access resource and tool hub designed to support practice supervisors and middle leaders who are responsible for the practice of others.
This hub replaces the Practice Supervisor Development Programme (PSDP) website with many of the materials updated or improved. PSDP was a significant learning programme commissioned by the Department for Education and led by Research in Practice.
Supervisors Development Programme
Develop knowledge, skills and values to embed a culture of reflective and relational supervision. Join a dedicated multi-organisational leadership programme across adults, or children and families social care.
Effective reflective supervision at the heart of social care reform
It has long been recognised that reflective supervision is ‘the cornerstone of effective practice’. A reformed social care system will require greater investment in supervisors and leaders to drive change and lead practice. We are offering development programmes and resources to support practice supervisors and their senior colleagues to build the quality of supervisory practice.
Reflective supervision: Learning Hub
An open access resource hub to support practice supervisors and middle leaders who are responsible for the practice of others and supports organisations to develop a positive culture of supervision. Resources are relevant to both children's and adults services.