Useful Supervision Techniques & Questions

One of the most interesting papers I came across recently was Carole Waskett's 2006 paper on a solution focused approach to supervision. (1). Why did I like it? Very simply, like all BSFT work it struck me as immensely practical. She outlines a number of useful questions to ask supervisees to enable them to both develop their practice skills, confidence and self awareness, by focusing on what they are already doing that works.
Questions she suggests (amongst others) include:
What are your best hopes for today's (supervision) meeting?
If "0" is where the client was when you first saw them, where on a scale of 0-10 would you say they are now?
If the client were here now where would they rate themselves?
What might the client say about how they have moved to that number from zero?
What has been helpful in the client's work with you, and what strengths have they used to keep moving?
It led me to thinking - what other questions or techniques have practitioners experienced in supervision that they have found particularly helpful? Maybe it is a particular phrase or a particular technique such as a form of role play? Single words often change lives.

Yours
Paul Grantham

Half of the nation clinically obese by 2050 — what can be done?

The largest ever UK study into obesity, compiled by 250 experts, said excess weight as now the norm in our "obesogenic" society.
Those of SDS delegates who attended our "Food Abuse: from Addiction to Obesity" will notice that lots of the statements in the report are very much in line with our own conclusions on the day. For the first time there is an acknowledgement from both the specialists and the government that encouraging the individual to choose a healthier lifestyle, simply isn't enough. Obesity, the authors concluded, is an inevitable consequence of a society of cheap, readily available and energy-dense foods, motorised transport, labour-saving devices, and inactive lifestyles.

The report forecast for 2050 is pretty gloomy. If current trends continue:

- 60% of men, 50% of women, and 26% of children and young people will be obese
- Cases of type 2 diabetes will rise by 70%
- Cases of stroke will rise by 30%
- Cases of coronary heart disease will rise by 20%

Though it is very encouraging that the overall attitude towards the problem seems to start changing and the report recognises that the trivialising the issue by 'eat less exercise more' educational approach is not the strongest strategy, most questions remain open:

What can be done to change the tendency?
Is obesity the fault of the individual?
Should more support for obese people be provided by the NHS?
Should changes be made at home or would government action make a real difference?

Looking forward to your replies

Julia Budnik

Message from SDS

Hi


My name is Jane Gallagher, and I am going to be your host on this SDS Blog. This is our new enterprise and we are finding our way in this mysterious world of blogging cautiously (but surely...) :-)

We are planning to start with publishing already existing SDS Delegate Debates - with comments received and then we'll move to current news as well as will run new delegate debates here.

Feel free to comment to any of the posts - whether they are old debates, or the news or the new debates. As you can guess - every blogger loves his readers and LIVES for the comments. :-) We are just the same.
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All posts will be tagged - hopefully it'll help you to find your way around here.

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So - here it goes. I am excited. Are you?

Kindly yours

Jane

SDS goes blogging

Hi there,

This is our first attempt to join the exciting world of blogging and bring to you all the fresh and hot news about your favourite training company.

We are hoping to move our popular SDS Delegate Debate into this blogging format in the future and looking forward to lively discussions here with you.

Wish us luck and please join the list of our friends.

Kindly yours

SDS