ABSTRACT
Peer supervision is defined as a collaborative learning environment created between fellow coaches, mentors or other professionals (practitioners). It is of mutual benefit to the practitioners, their clients and the wider system. Peers often have comparable levels of expertise and are without supervision training. It is a self-managed learning arrangement; the major exchange is time rather than money. Peer supervision is reciprocal, generates the power to reflect on practice together, and peer to peer environment encourages vulnerability and support in equal measure.
We provide some definitions of supervision for coaches and mentors. This is a practical guide to enable “peers” to engage in supervision. We report back on how practitioners use peer supervision. What are identified as two key differences between “peer supervision” and professional supervision: the presence or absence of underpinning supervision knowledge and the reciprocal nature of the relationship which in turn impacts on how power is experienced. We explore other activities mistaken for peer supervision. We consider how geography and the unregulated market impacts on the use of peer supervision. We list the most common reasons why coaches, mentors and other professionals and practitioners see peer supervision as a positive choice and also provide practical guidance including highlighting the potential risks and pitfalls.
