Recent posts
Jevon, M., 2011. Supervision Requirements across the Organisation. Reformulation, Winter, pp.62-63.
The purpose of supervision, amongst others, is to ensure the quality and efficacy of the work with the client and that the high standards of ACAT are maintained.
Skills Training
In normal circumstances, Skills trainees should be in supervision with an ACAT accredited supervisor.
Practitioner Training
Trainees should be in weekly supervision with an accredited CAT supervisor. The supervision must continue until the completion of all clinical work for the course. Each case carried should get, taking one week together with another, a minimum of 15 minutes discussion per week. The supervision normally takes place face to face in groups and this group set up for supervision is the preferred setting. No supervision group should be constituted in such a way as to carry more cases than can be discussed. Trainees must complete a minimum of 8 supervised cases. Supervision is for a minimum of 40 weeks/year. (See also Training Handbook) Authorisation for alternative arrangements rests with the Course Director.
Accredited Practitioners
Once accredited as a Practitioner ACAT members should continue to be in supervision with an accredited ACAT supervisor or an ACAT trainee supervisor, according to an agreed plan that is acceptable for maintenance of ACAT CPD. In some circumstances, a combination of peer-supervision with other CAT therapists in consultation with an ACAT accredited supervisor may be acceptable for the maintenance of ACAT CPD. There needs to be a minimum of 1.5 hours per month planned CAT supervision in group or individual supervision.
Use of a non-accredited CAT supervisor is not recommended for members intending to go on to psychotherapy or supervisor training as these cases would not be counted, but see details below.
Psychotherapy Training
Trainees should be in weekly supervision with an ACAT accredited CAT supervisor. To fulfil UKCP requirements for clinical work, trainees must complete a total of 450 supervised clinical hours which includes the clinical work accrued through the CAT Practitioner Training.
The supervision requirements for Psychotherapy training are complex and to obtain full details the course handbook for IRRAPT training should be consulted. In summary, 225 supervised clinical hours need to be supervised by an accredited CAT supervisor at Practitioner or Psychotherapy level of accreditation and 225 hours need to be supervised by an accredited CAT supervisor at Psychotherapy level of accreditation. Trainees can count clinical hours accrued after Practitioner training and before beginning Psychotherapy training as long as these have been supervised weekly by an accredited CAT supervisor.
A minimum of 8 cases must be supervised by an ACAT accredited supervisor at Psychotherapy level during the IRRAPT training. For the 8 cases required for Practitioner training and the 8 cases required for Psychotherapy training, each case needs to be supervised for a minimum of 15 minutes discussion per week. For the remaining hours, supervision time can be reduced to 10 minutes per patient. Weekly supervision is essential throughout the training but in exceptional circumstances for the Psychotherapy training, face to face contact with a supervisor can be fortnightly alternating with telephone contact. Trainees are expected to remain in supervision until completion of all their clinical work.
Psychotherapists
The psychotherapist should arrange for supervision or consultation on her clinical work as appropriate. (In most cases the supervisor will be a CAT supervisor but this is no longer a requirement.)
Practitioners and Psychotherapists in Private Practice must be in appropriate supervision with a supervisor member of an accredited body. (In most cases the supervisor will be a CAT supervisor but this is no longer a requirement for inclusion in the private practice list).
For Practitioners or Psychotherapists who plan to undertake Supervisor Training
Applicants will normally have completed sixteen cases, the first eight of which are those needed to qualify as a CAT Practitioner. The second eight cases over and above the original eight, whether pre or post accreditation, normally have to be supervised and signed off by either an accredited CAT supervisor or a trainee CAT supervisor and countersigned by their senior supervisor. Where an accredited CAT supervisor has not been available for reasons of geography or lack of availability for the additional eight cases the person who provided supervision must have extensive experience of CAT practice and supervision in general, or this may have been provided through well-managed peer supervision with CAT therapists. However the prospective trainee supervisor needs to make contact with a senior supervisor by their 14th CAT case to discuss their training and development plans.
If further clarification is needed please contact the ACAT office.
October 2011