Through the Division of Forensic Psychology (DFP) trainees forum, I often see fellow trainees struggling to get on the first rung of the ladder for Stage 2 and that is accessing an appropriate supervisor. As trainees we need to understand something about the forensic psychology arena so as to understand the difficulties that can arise in accessing appropriate supervision.
My experience so far, from speaking to other trainees and through my experience of securing a supervisor is that forensic psychology is currently underfunded and overworked which is leading to a bottle neck in the training process. Students are completing their masters only to find there are very few trainee forensic psychology posts available in the prison service and NHS and these are in high demand. What all this amounts to is that there is less money to take on trainees so instead assistant psychologists roles are preferred. Chartered forensic psychologists have high case loads and without the trainees to support them, they are left with very little time to supervise Stage 2 training. Therefore, as expected, students completing their masters are working elsewhere, trying to gain experience and secure a supervisor independently.
To secure a supervisor can be a lengthy process but do not be disheartended, there will be a supervisor out there for you. Whilst some chartered forensic psychologists do not take on independent trainees as they feel we are unable to get the experience, many others see the benefits of having independent trainees not as an extra source of income but as essential to the development of the wider forensic psychology arena.
The first place to start when looking for a supervisor would be to contact Alex Johnson at the DFP (see bottom of page for website link). Alex has a list of current supervisors and their contact details so that you can start canvassing for supervision. The only thing the list doesn't provide is information on whether the supervisors have any current availability.
I went the long way round to finding a supervisor and instead searched the British Psychological Society (BPS) website for all the chartered forensic psychologists in the London area where I am based. I also made sure to note what areas they had experience in and where they worked as it helps to have a supervisor who holds the same interests in forensic psychology as you do, for example, if you do not agree with the prison system and do not want to work in that setting, you want to look for a supervisor who perhaps has experience of secure units, police or community work. Furthermore, if your interest is in the courts and eye witness testimony etc, you may find a supervisor who has only worked with offending behaviour and mental health more difficult to work with. On the other hand, a good supervisor may be able to support you despite your differences in interests.
Trying to secure a supervisor is very similar to sending your CV out for a job. You have to sell yourself. It can take some time between securing a supervisor and finishing your masters and supervisors will want to know what you have been doing in the mean time to keep your skills sharp, to gain experience and to continue your professional development. This is where volunteering and placements can come in really handy and if you need help in organising and logging your continued professional development (CPD) then the BPS have a great CPD site on their main website which allows you to keep a record of your CPD, your learning and your reflections. In subsequent articles I will talk more about volunteering and placements but for now, let's stick to supervision.
It can be hard to know what it is supervisors are looking for in order to sell yourself to them. To help with this dilemma i asked my supervisor what she looks for and what she thinks other supervisors look for in a trainee. To summarise her view, she feels supervisors are looking for people who are motivated and able to work independently as the supervisors are there to advise and guide and you will be doing the work for yourself. You will need to demonstrate a high level of organisation so that a supervisor can be certain that you are capable of working in this capacity. Of course a variety of experience is also helpful even if it is voluntary work. As with any job or placement, showing that you are mature and professional in your approach to securing a supervisor can also help so a CV and cover letter stating your intention for supervision, what stage your are at with your CPD and training and where you want to go in the future are a must.
It is with supervision that the independent route has a short fall. Unless your workplace will fund this training, you will have to fund supervision yourself. Supervisors costs vary but are usually between £50 - £100 an hour and half again for marking working that you send to them. Ok, deep breath, don't panic. You only need to see your supervisor for 4 hours a month once you are enrolled on Stage 2, it can take up to a year to do all the preparation and have your application completed and approved and you won't need to see your supervisor for 4 hours a month during that time. Once you are enrolled thats when you must see a supervisor for 4 hours a month however this can include a designated supervisor who is overseeing your examplar work at your placement or in your workplace. So for example, if you are doing a placement with a college for one of your exemplars then someone has to be named your designated supervisor and you can see this person for 3 out of the 4 supervision hours a month, saving you a bit of money. A word of caution, your coordinating supervisor is there to make sure that your work is up to standard and to ensure that you are practising appropriately therefore if they feel at any point that you are struggling then you will need to see them more often. This isn't a bad thing and can only help to improve your practice and the likelihood of passing your exemplars first time.
I hope this article has been helpful to you. If you have any questions about the Stage 2 process and any questions about supervision then you can access the DFP website through a link at the bottom of this blog. You can also find Alex's details to email her any questions you have. If you have any questions about my experience of supervision then feel free to leave any comments or email me.
Until next time......
