Supervision & Coaching
Firstly a note on SUPERVISION
As a CARDS Volunteer you have agreed to attend at least one supervision session a month as part of your role. We have made several dates available throughout the year (twice a month), you can either attend a CARDS group supervision or an Adam Burley Supervision session or both. You also have the opportunity for one to one supervision sessions on request.
CARDS Volunteers group supervision sessions
The group supervision session for volunteers runs on the last Thursday of the month from 18.00 to 20.00. During the CoVid restrictions we are holding smaller sessions for 40 minutes each from 6pm to 6.45pm and then again from 7pm to 7.45pm. To register for this session simply text the CARDS number on 07715082428 with your name, email and which slot you wish to join. We will contact you again on the day of the session.
CARDS One to One supervision session
Volunteers can request a one to one supervision session with Tracey Stewart via zoom or telephone. Slots are usually held on specific days during the month but during CoVid restrictions you can simply text her on 07715082427 with your name and availability for one to one supervision and a slot will be allocated for you. If it is urgent or you want to discuss something on the day. Just call, we will always be happy to hear from you.
Adam Burley group supervision sessions
These supervision sessions are led by Adam Burley (consultant clinical psychologist/psychotherapist) and are held at Rowan Alba Head Offices.
Adam works with individuals and groups effected by homelessness and offers monthly group supervision to staff and volunteers at Rowan Alba. These sessions are extremely useful for reflecting on your practice and learning from/contributing to others experiences. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this group if you are able. You do not need to book onto the session just come along but you must be aware that the session is for reflecting on your practice and NOT for one to one discussions about furthering psychology careers or development.
CARDS Team meetings
Team meetings are open to all volunteers and are an opportunity for you to hear about the developments of the service and to contribute your ideas and feedback. We usually hold these meetings from 2-4pm. Let us know if you are attending a team meeting so that we can ensure we have enough space for everyone. At the moment during restrictions these meetings are done via zoom and you will have to book on to one.
CARDS Team days
These are working meetings held to talk about and work on issues or for putting in place policies/procedures or service development projects. These are held every quarter and may include coaching practice.
We usually hold these workshops at RS MacDonald from 1pm to 4pm (lunch included)..
ROWAN ALBA Coaching training
Coaching training is a full day’s free training and lunch will be provided. Coaching requires us to adopt a less directive and instructional style of working with others. It requires us to make a conscious shift towards asking more questions and moving away from immediately offering solutions, even when we think we know the answer. The coach needs to trust that others can be resourceful and that they can help them be more resourceful by taking an increasingly non directive approach. The coach must work from a point of equality with the people they are coaching and a strong foundation of belief in the coachee’s potential to achieve results.
A good coach doesn’t see themselves as an expert able to fix all problems and have all the answers. Instead, they see themselves as supporting the process of learning. Coaching is a process that aims to improve performance and focuses on the ‘here and now’ rather than on the distant past or future. Someone who is coaching can be seen as a facilitator of learning. Good coaches believe that the individual they are communicating with always has the answer to their own problems, but understands that they may need help to find the answer. Even if they are consciously unaware of what the problem is, or even that a problem exists in the first place.
The process of coaching in a work environment should be focussed on unlocking a persons potential. This involves recognising that the biggest obstacles to success and achieving potential are internal, not external. To do this we need to empower people to learn to silence that inner voice and allow their instincts, or their subconscious, to take over.
Coaching, as a skill, can be used in all areas of life, personal and professional and is very useful for volunteers working with clients or in your everyday life. Rowan Alba hold one day coaching sessions that are open to staff and volunteers on a regular basis.
Co-Coaching sessions
The Co-coaching sessions are held on a monthly basis (first Tuesday) from 4-6pm at head office. You do not need to have attended the training to come along.
They are a great opportunity to practice coaching skills in a more relaxed, informal environment than the hustle and bustle of a full days training. They’re also a great opportunity to bring situations from your work practice to be coached on.
Please contact cards@rowanalba.org for a place on any of the above supervision sessions or meetings.