Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Restriction: Complete professional supervision for psychologists
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Restriction: Complete professional supervision for psychologists

National Restrictions Library 2.0: This restriction applies to restictions imposed or accepted from 16 September 2024. For restrictions imposed or accepted before this date please see the National Restrictions Library 1.0.

Restriction description

A registered psychologist must supervise practitioners with this restriction. The supervising psychologist must have the training, experience or qualifications needed to provide the required supervision. 

Supervision refers to a professional relationship in which a skilled registered practitioner (the supervisor) guides another registered practitioner’s professional development. The restriction includes the topics for supervision.

We will only approve a supervisor who is suitably skilled and experienced to:

  • supervise the practitioner
  • give independent information about the practitioner’s practice.

The practitioner must show evidence that they have:

  • completed the supervision
  • thought about how to incorporate what they learnt into their work.

We expect the practitioner to prevent similar concerns.

We monitor compliance by checking that the practitioner:

  • meets all required timeframes
  • proposes supervision that will deal with the concerns we identified
  • completes the education.

Full text of restriction

  1. From #start date#, the practitioner must be supervised by another registered psychologist addressing the following #Board’s concerns#. The supervision must include, at a minimum, #duration/ frequency/number of sessions#.
  2. The practitioner must:
    1. comply with the Ahpra Protocol: Complete professional supervision for psychologists (289 KB,PDF) in force at the date these conditions are imposed and then as updated from time to time
    2. complete the requirements of this restriction within #timeframe# of the start date of this condition. The start date is #date#.

You will receive a monitoring plan that details contact information, due dates, and the information you will need to provide to show that you are complying with your restrictions.

Forms

Please contact your case officer for more information. 

For general information see our Frequently asked questions about Monitoring and compliance page

If you have not yet received contact details for your case officer, please email your enquiry.

We are here to support and guide you through your compliance. 

The contact details for your case officer are included on all our correspondence with you.

We also encourage you to use independent support services, including those provided on our Practitioner support services page.

You can also contact your legal representative or professional union to support you.

You will be required to provide the missing information before your nomination will be considered. Incomplete nominations will not be approved.

Where an incomplete nomination results in delays in the completion of the supervision, we may consider taking action in response to the non-compliance.

Generally, we will provide a further opportunity to nominate different supervisors, or to address any shortfalls in the nomination. 

Repeated failures to make an appropriate nomination and/or delays in providing the required nominations may result in regulatory action in response to the non-compliance.

You should provide evidence of discontinuation to us as soon as possible. You will be required to make a new nomination within 30 days of the discontinuation by your previous supervisor. You will be required to complete any outstanding topics or requirements if you have not been able to complete the requirements of your restrictions and monitoring plan. 

You must nominate your supervisors by the due date and complete the required number of sessions at the frequency outlined in your monitoring plan. Whilst there is no restriction on commencing your supervision before receiving approval of a supervisor, we may decide that your nomination does not meet the minimum requirements outlined in your restrictions, the Protocol, or your monitoring plan, even if you have already completed it. 

If you proceed to complete the supervision prior to approval and the we decide that it does not meet the requirements, any supervision undertaken may not be used in compliance with the restrictions. You may be required to complete additional supervision at your own cost.

No, we have not created a template plan. Your plan should be created to specifically address the concerns identified by the Board and created in consultation with your supervisor.

Generally, supervision via videoconferencing as a method of delivery will be considered, however, you must be able to confirm how patient records for review or case studies will be shared. Both you and your supervisor should confirm in your plan that you have access to reliable internet, web camera, speakers and microphone. Only supervision which includes real time interaction with your nominated supervisor will be approved. 

The supervision plan should also specifically address how the supervision will be delivered in the event of technology issues involving bandwidth, video quality and broadband interruptions. 

Pre-recorded video and audio content will generally not be considered sufficient in isolation.

Ahpra has published information on preparing a reflective report.

If we are not satisfied that your reflective practice report demonstrates that the supervision has addressed the risk that led to the restrictions, we may impose further restrictions to protect the public.

You must contact your Ahpra case officer or team as soon as possible if you have had a change of circumstances or are unable to comply with the requirements for any reason. See your monitoring plan for contact information.

You may be able to apply for a change in your restrictions, or an extension of time to complete your supervision. Circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis.

 
 
 
Page reviewed 13/09/2024