Supervision Policy

National Alliance of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (NACP)
Effective: January 2025 

1. Purpose

Supervision is a cornerstone of safe, ethical, and reflective therapeutic practice. The NACP requires all practising members to engage in regular supervision to:

  • Safeguard client wellbeing
  • Support practitioner development
  • Ensure ethical decision-making and competence
  • Prevent practitioner burnout and isolation
  • Promote accountability and high standards across the profession

This policy sets out the expectations, frequency, and documentation requirements for supervision within NACP membership.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

  • Certified and Accredited Members actively engaged in counselling or psychotherapy
  • Student Members undertaking supervised placements
  • Supervisors working with NACP members
  • Associated Professional Members where relevant to their scope of practice (e.g. therapeutic coaches)

3. Supervision Requirements

Certified and Accredited Members

  • Must receive a minimum of 2 hours of clinical supervision per calendar month
  • Members practising 15 hours or fewer per week may reduce this to 1 hour per month
  • Members with higher caseloads or complex client groups are encouraged to access additional supervision as needed

Student Members

  • Must follow the supervision requirements of their training provider
  • Must only work with clients while under active, appropriate supervision
  • Are expected to submit details of their supervision arrangements when applying for NACP Student Membership

4. Supervision Format and Quality

Supervision may be delivered:

  • Individually, group supervision is not accepted by the NACP
  • In-person or online, provided the quality and ethical standards are upheld
  • By external or internal supervisors, with appropriate qualifications and experience

Supervision must:

  • Be provided by a practitioner suitably trained in clinical supervision
  • Include opportunities for reflection, feedback, ethical discussion, and support
  • Uphold the principles of confidentiality, consent, and mutual respect
  • Include space to explore practitioner wellbeing, biases, and professional growth

5. Supervisor Qualifications

NACP recommends that supervisors:

  • Hold a recognised supervision qualification or extensive experience in clinical supervision
  • Maintain their own professional registration and supervision
  • Operate within an ethical framework aligned with the NACP’s values

The NACP reserves the right to approve or reject supervision arrangements that do not meet these standards.

6. Record-Keeping and Documentation

Members must:

  • Keep a supervision log documenting dates, duration, format (e.g. individual/group), and supervisor name
  • Be prepared to submit their supervision log upon request as part of audits, renewals, or complaints investigations
  • Inform the NACP of any significant changes in supervision arrangements, including gaps or concerns

Templates and log forms are available in the NACP Member Toolkit.

** Members receiving their supervision exclusively from the NACP do not need to maintain their own supervision logs as we do this for them **

7. Confidentiality in Supervision

  • Clients discussed in supervision must be presented anonymously or with pseudonyms
  • Supervisors are expected to treat all shared information as confidential
  • Practitioners must inform clients, as part of their initial contract, that their work will be discussed in supervision for ethical and developmental purposes

8. Supervision and Complaints

Supervision is not only a space for growth but also a safeguard. If concerns arise around ethical issues, practitioner wellbeing, or client safety, supervisors are encouraged to:

  • Discuss the issue directly with the supervisee
  • Encourage reflection and remedial action
  • Report serious concerns to the NACP, in line with professional duty of care

The NACP may request supervision records during the investigation of complaints or concerns.

9. Responsibility and Oversight

Members are responsible for:

  • Arranging and maintaining appropriate supervision
  • Ensuring their supervisor meets ethical and professional standards
  • Seeking additional supervision in high-risk, complex, or boundary-challenging cases

Oversight of this policy and related standards sits with the Supervision Standards Representative on the NACP Advisory Board.

10. Review

This policy is reviewed annually or in response to changes in professional guidance, law, or ethical standards.

📩 Contact

For questions, concerns, or support regarding supervision:
📧 info@nacp.co.uk
🔗 www.nacp.co.uk