Reflective practice for staff wellbeing
Do you need a space to be able to explore the demands of your role, including the emotional aspects of working with children and young people?
We offer monthly online small group reflective spaces that provide a confidential space to reflect on your successes and problem-solve any challenges in your work with colleagues in similar roles. This video from Education Support explains what to expect in supervision sessions and the benefits:
- Professional Supervision - school leaders & managers in Wales (Welsh subtitles)
The leads of these groups have had training in reflective supervision and will provide a non-judgemental, confidential space to help you to feel comfortable to share what you need to.
Book your space here Course: MHEW: Small Group Reflective Supervision (learningpool.com)
Purpose of reflective practice
This enables staff to:
-
process their feelings about work
-
develop skills, problem solving and build on strengths
-
ensure all functions of their role are carried out.
This can be achieved using a variety of methods to engage staff in meaningful, analytical discussion, including solution-focussed questions, scaling and challenging.
We challenge to help staff explore their reasons for doing something in a particular way, and make sense of their thoughts, feelings and actions.
The aim is to provide a reflective space to help bring clarity to practitioners thinking and to enhance self-confidence in their work.
How reflective practice works
Reflection focusses on the attendee’s individual working practice and is not the same as line management. It can help to:
- develop skills, abilities and understanding of the attendee;
- process the attendee’s emotional response to their work;
- ensure that the attendee is working safely and effectively.
Reflective practice can be delivered individually or in peer groups according to staff needs and availability.
Why is reflective practice important?
Evidence shows that staff take less sick leave, suffer less work-related stress and are happier at work if regular, formal reflective practice is in place.
It gives you the opportunity to step back and review your work, pause for breath and to refuel with guided discussion.
It is easy to get lost in the emotion and complexities of students’ issues. It is essential to separate these out to forge a clear direction towards desired outcomes, whilst maintaining professional boundaries.