Welcome to Clinical Supervision

Here you will be provided with all the information you need to know about Clinical Supervision

How do I sign up for a session or contact you?

Group Clinical Supervision sessions will be provided on a regular basis and session places will be offered on a first come first serve basis.

  • To arrange a one-to-one session (or group session at a time outside of the planned sessions) – please email the Clinical Supervision Facilitator of your choice to their @swast.nhs.uk address asking them to arrange a session at a convenient time for you.
  • If you have any other queries – please contact Clinical Supervision leads Sasha Johnston or Lizzie Ryan via the contact form below.
  • For any complaints or concerns about Clinical Supervision – please contact CPD Lead Alex Jamieson via the contact form below.

Frequently Asked Questions

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We talk about and reflect upon one work-related topic. Either one-to-one with the facilitator or as a group, we share experiences and perceptions, discuss what happened and why, learn from each other and support each other whilst celebrating successes and identifying learning opportunities when things haven’t gone so well.

A qualified Clinical Supervision facilitator will host a session. These sessions are offered either in a small group (usually around 4-8 persons) or one-to-one depending upon your needs. Each session will be guided by a set of ground rules that everyone agrees to at the beginning of each session.

These ground rules include how long the session will be (usually 1-hour), agreement of respect for others opinion, perspective, and experiences, and agreement about confidentiality i.e., what is spoken about during the session is not to be shared outside of the group.

The only exceptions to this are when everyone in the session agrees that sharing would be appropriate (such as an improvement to practice has been identified) or a safeguarding matter is shared (such as someone saying they feel suicidal). The facilitator is trained to manage any issues that arise and will know where to get support if needed.

Yes! Despite the title, these sessions are not clinical nor are they about supervision – (the title isn’t very helpful!).

These sessions are available to ALL STAFF regardless of your role. It is just about having a safe place to talk about anything that is on your mind that is work-related.

Clinical Supervision is a great way of thinking about how your role may be affecting you and gives you a chance to talk about the things that are important to you.

You can share your experiences, learn from others who may have similar experiences or different perspectives and feel better by discussing anything that may be worrying you.

You will also be provided with a Continuing Professional Development certificate as evidence of reflective practice for your portfolio and/or career conversation.

Becoming a facilitator

A formal programme has been developed for Clinical Supervision in SWASFT.

We have developed a policy (which informed the development of a national framework for Clinical Supervision across all UK ambulance Trusts) and a job description for the role of Clinical Supervision facilitator.

For anyone wishing to facilitate Clinical Supervision in SWASFT they will need to demonstrate the following:

1. Completion of a higher education module in Clinical Supervision (or equivalent)

2. Successfully completed an informal interview for the role

After successfully completing these steps, the employee will be registered as an official facilitator, will join a facilitator team where they will receive regular communications, invites to facilitator team meetings and be invited to participate in group Clinical Supervision to enable the sharing of supervision experiences. This system provides the Trust with governance around the consistency and safety of the role and provides facilitators with a team of colleagues they can go to for support with decision-making and welfare.

Please keep an eye on the HE modules page of the CPD website for upcoming opportunities to undertake the Clinical Supervision higher education module.

If you have completed the module and want to join the facilitator team, please contact the team via the contact form below to arrange a date for your informal interview.

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Documents for participants

If you are a Clinical Supervision Facilitator and are looking to access further paperwork, please click here to visit the Clinical Supervision Facilitators page.

*You will need to notify CPD Admin  to get access to this page, and they will provide you with the password*

Clinical Supervision Lead Facilitators

Louise Gainard
swast logo

Louise Gainard

Sasha Johnston

Lizzie Ryan

Vacant

Education Lead
Clinical Supervision tutor

HEE Clinical Fellow, Research Paramedic and DPhil candidate

Education Lead /
Clinical Supervision Lead

Education Lead
Clinical Supervision tutor

I joined the ambulance service in 2000 as a Trainee Paramedic and I qualified as a IHCD Paramedic in 2003.

I have always been passionate and dedicated to assisting with the support and development of SWAST Clinical staff, initially as a Practice Educator then as a member of the Lead Paramedic (L&D) team in BNSSG.

I currently work as an LDO (soon to be renamed Educational Lead) specialising in Clinical Supervision and Practice Education.

I am married to my wife Lisa; we have two sons and a working cocker spaniel called Milo. Together we all love to explore the great outdoors.

In 2020, I completed my BSc top up with the University of Cumbria. Whilst completing my top up; I studied a Level 6 Clinical supervision module and discovered how beneficial Clinical Supervision can be to personal wellbeing, professional practice, and Patient experience.

Clinical Supervision sessions provide a non-judgemental, confidential, and safe environment where ALL SWAST staff can discuss and reflect on work related issues.
It’s not about being Clinical or about being Supervised (unfortunately I didn’t name it!).
It is however an incredible wellbeing support tool.

I want to help other members of staff experience the benefits of Clinical Supervision for themselves by facilitating Clinical Supervision sessions.

Sasha Johnston has worked for ambulance services in the UK and the Caribbean since 2002 holding a number of different roles including, front-line EMT and lead Paramedic. She completed a PgCert in Advanced Practice and an NIHR funded Masters in Clinical Research. Her research interest is ambulance staff mental health and wellbeing, with an emphasis on organisational support and cultural change.

She is currently undertaking a part-time DPhil with the University of Oxford to explore the feasibility and acceptability of ambulance organisations providing a mandatory space at work for staff to reflect upon and discuss work-related impact and consider their wellbeing needs. Sasha is married with two children and a happily tubby cat called Timmy.

I love working for the ambulance service and have met so many extraordinary colleagues over the years. However, I do worry about how the job affects us. Not only from a physical point of view, but I know how this job can chip away at our mental wellbeing as well. I want to do all I can to make sure that we all have the support we need to stay mentally well.

After completing the Clinical Supervision university module and joining in with sessions myself, I have seen clear benefits. The sessions have helped me to understand why people make the decisions they make, I have had the opportunity to share my own experiences and on the job decisions that have sometimes kept me awake at night, and I have enjoyed spending time with colleagues in a more relaxed setting.

Its like a proper crew room conversation or meeting without the constant radio interruption or departmental agenda. I am looking forward to using the skills I have learnt to enable these supportive discussions for my colleagues.

Lizzie Ryan has worked for the ambulance services in the UK since 2005 holding a number of different roles including, Head of Education, Training Manager and Education Business Manager. She is a registered nurse and has completed a Masters degree in Education, Masters Degree in Mentorship, Masters degree in Business and Administration, a BSc in Psychology and a Level 4 in Mindfulness to name a few of her academic qualifications.

Her main interest is in supporting staff both front line and in the support services with their mental health and wellbeing, as well as delivering Clinical Supervision and Mentorship modules with Plymouth University, Award in Education & Training with OfQUAL and Mindfulness training. She is currently developing her skills in mental health support and working closely with the Well Being Hub. Lizzie is ex-army and is a gym fanatic with 4 children, 11 grandchildren and a crazy Labradoodle called Bailey.

I started to deliver Clinical Supervision modules over 16 years ago in partnership with Plymouth University, and we trained a number of our then CSO to deliver the process to staff under their remit. I am acutely aware of the impact of the front line including pre-hospital care on the ambulances, patient contact in the Clinical Hub and the pressures of the working in the support departments in the Trust. I have been with the Trust for 16 and in my time with them I have come to know and respect my paramedic colleagues both for the work that they do and the commitment they have to the provision of a first class service.

What I also recognised was the impact that their commitment can have on their own mental health and wellbeing, and that led me to develop the Clinical Supervision module and to train to be a Mindfulness Coach. With the Clinical Supervision session I can facilitate problem solving, sharing of anxieties and work and personal pressures, the exploration of clinical practice and time to reflect and talk through issues and concerns.

I love nothing more than my clients telling me at the end of the session that ‘I feel better’ and ‘I know where I am going now’. It takes more strength to admit you need help than it does to cope with stressors in your life on your own…..

As a paramedic I believe we are privileged to be in one of the best jobs available. I recognise the current stressors and demands on us has seen a negative impact on our wellbeing. I have had my own struggles with mental health in the past and now strive to make our organisation a more supportive and understanding one. Clinical supervision is an excellent tool for that.

Historically we may have felt comfortable talking about our feelings, difficult incidents, frustrating policy, and experiences in the crew room or on standby. With recent pressures and rota changes that is rarely achievable. Clinical supervision can fill that gap and more. I know I would have loved to have talked about a difficult job in a safe and confidential space, free from judgement with a no blame ethos.

I see it as a chance to reflect and improve my practice whilst acknowledging how difficult it is to always provide the best care. I will always be happy to be that listening ear as understand how much we need it sometimes.

Clinical Supervision Facilitators

The number of CS facilitators has grown so much that we are removing the personal profiles & pictures to make this page easier to navigate.

Listening to feedback, some people prefer a CS session with someone outside their dept. or area, & others would rather it is someone local that they know.

So we have listed the CS facilitators by dept & also by A-Z location so you can choose someone who best suits your needs.

CS Facilitators who work in other Depts.

Department Base Name  Role
Wellbeing Somerset Dan Strange Paramedic Wellbeing
CFR Shepton Mallet George Pemble-Vincent Responder Officer
EOC Exeter Helen Riley Clinical Advisor

 

 

CS Facilitators who work in Operations

Base Name Role
Bodmin Elizabeth Booth ECA
Cornwall & IoS Alan Newman Lead Paramedic
Crediton Katharine Laurenson Paramedic
Exeter Samantha Turl Specialist Paramedic
Honiton Nicola Crabb Paramedic
Keynsham Peter Winterbottom Advanced Nurse Practitioner
Keynsham Carrie Britton Paramedic
Marlborough Helen Harris Paramedic
Newquay Kris Sullivan ECA
Saltash Emily Conner ECA
Torbay Kerry Hull LP L&D
Torquay Elaine McCarthy Paramedic
Torquay Hannah Dobinson Paramedic
Weymouth Rebecca Wotton Paramedic
Yate Olivia Bond Paramedic

 

CS Facilitators who work in L&D

Base Name Role
ASOC Gavin Fitzpatrick Education Lead
Barnstaple Cassandra Day Education Lead
Barnstaple Rachel Connett (Pryce) Education Lead
BNSSG Craig Thorne Education Lead
BNSSG Lucie Taylor Education Lead
Bodmin Melanie Maskell Education Lead
Bridegwater Samantha Webb Education Practitioner
Bridgewater Brett Chard Education Lead
Bridgewater Gemma Richards Education Lead
Bridgewater Rebecca Ham Education Lead
Bridgewater Timothy Clarke Education Lead
Bristol Laura Hartnell Education Lead
Chippenham Henry Fielding Education Lead
Chippenham Andrew Newman Education Lead
Chippenham Helen Everett Education Lead
Derriford Lizzie Ryan Academic/CS/PEd Lead
Derriford Justin Sharples Education Lead
Derriford Lee Thirlby Education Lead
Derriford Richard Walker Education Lead
Dursley Mike Page PPC
Exeter Fern Wiffen Education Practitioner
Exeter Jamie Brooks Education Lead
Exeter Marie Knowles PPC
Exeter Marc Moyle Education Lead
Exeter Andy Inniss Education Lead
Exeter Eleanor Houlton Education Practitioner
Exeter Luke Priest Education Practitioner
Exeter Michelle Morgan Education Practitioner
Exeter Paul Handy Education Practitioner
Lydney Megan Maynard Education Lead
Methuen Park Simon Ip Education Practitioner
NBOC Maisie Williams Education Lead
NEC Sasha Johnson Senior Mental Health Lead
NEC Louise Gainard CS and PEd Lead

CS Facilitators who work in L&D

Base Name Role
NEC Charlotte Ryan Education Lead
NEC Jonathan White Education Lead
NEC Rebecca Simmons Education Lead
NEC Rowena Griffiths Education Lead
Newton Abbott Guy Risdon EducationLead
Poole Jason Cartridge Education Practitioner
Redruth Robert Pascoe Education Lead
St James Paul Eyland Education Practitioner
St James Ralph Cullum Education Practitioner
St James Rebekah Harris Education Practitioner
St James Suzanne Fitzgerald Education Practitioner
St James Victoria Leeson Education Practitioner
St Leonards Russell Timms Education Lead
St Leonards Samer Al-khateb Education Lead
St Leonards Stephen Stratton Education Lead
St Leonards Ursula Percy Education Lead
St Leonards Ryan Ottaway Education Lead
Staverton Catherine Richards Education Lead
Staverton Charlotte Davies Education Lead
Staverton James Nunan Education Lead
Stroud Andy West Education Lead
Swindon Nick Brown Education Lead
Swindon Richard Carter Education Lead
Torquay Christopher Ward Education Lead
Torquay David Chapman Education Lead
Torquay Nathan Wilson Education Lead
Torquay Steve Knowles Education Lead
Truro Jeremy Goodchild Education Lead
Weston Amanda Setter Education Practitioner
Weston Katie Williams Education Lead
Weston Jonathan Clapham Education Lead
Wiltshire James Woollard Education Lead
Wiltshire Jez Bennett Education Practitioner
Wiltshire Natasha Barton Education Lead
Wimborne Iain Odhams Education Lead