Introduction
Scotland’s Position Statement on Supervision for Allied Health Professions (AHPs) was developed in 2018 in partnership with the AHP Directors Scotland Group (ADSG), (now Scottish Directors Group – SDAHP), the AHP Federation Scotland (AHPFS), Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and the Scottish Government Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (CAHPO).
This updated document reflects feedback from the workforce, a literature review, Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) research (2019) and recent Preceptorship Guidance (HCPC, 2024) and guidance on the recording retention and storage of supervision records written in partnership with the Scottish Government Records Management Forum.
Purpose of this Statement
This position statement is evidence informed and offers principles and guidance to support the provision of supervision across health and social care in Scotland, therefore including all AHPs and AHP HealthCare Support Workers (HCSW) working in roles in the NHS, Local Authority, Health & Social Care Partnership, third sector colleagues and other organisations.
This statement:
- aims to support staff to undertake supervision.
- may be used to inform local AHP or NMAHP support and supervision guidance or policy.
- focuses on the need for planned, formal supervision but recognises the value of informal/ad-hoc supervision.
Based on the well-documented benefits of supervision (Dawson 2013, Martin et al 2021, Rothwell et al., 2021, SCIE, 2017, HCPC 2021) this statement takes the position that
All AHP practitioners, irrespective of their level of practice or experience, should have access to, and be prepared to make constructive use of supervision. This includes all AHP roles: education, research, leadership and management, as well as clinical roles.
For sake of clarity, HealthCare Support Worker staff are not registered by the HCPC, the practice outlined in this statement is inclusive of all non-registered staff. This is consistent with the Induction Standards for Health Care Support Workers (2009) and the SSSC Code of Practice (2024)
The HCPC advises that access to good quality supervision is a supportive structure and is one of the many ways registrants can meet the HCPC standards for continuing Professional Development and HCPC Standards of Proficiency (Standard 4.8) The HCPC Website also contains resources and information to support effective supervision.
AHP professional bodies also endorse the importance of regular supervision for all staff.
It is acknowledged that AHPs using psychological therapies will require additional specific supervision for those interventions.
this statement:
- is applicable to all roles and levels of practice
- articulates the overarching principles of supervision
- offers guidance which can be used to inform local NMAHP/AHP supervision policy or guidance documents and practice.
