Barnardo’s Scotland new report 'Supervision in Education – Healthier School for All' asserted that the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people will improve if we support educational staff by supervising them to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Barnardo’s Scotland carried out a survey which revealed that nearly all staff working in education would support Supervision in Education in the same way that other practitioners who are working for the care and protection of children and young people have been supported.
The director of Barnardo’s Scotland explained that their survey asked education staff about their experiences and views on the role of professional or reflective Supervision in Education. He concluded that the more we support educational staff, the better they can support and enhance children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
The survey findings also highlighted:
- Why supervision is needed: 65% of respondents reported high levels of stress and no structure to discuss their feelings at work. They stated that these problems impact their ability to properly support their pupils, and that they often take these feelings home with them.
- How supervision can help: respondents stated that supervision that supports the staff's mental health and wellbeing, ensures safe practices, secures better outcomes for pupils, and allows time and space for staff to process and reflect on their work and its impact could make a great difference.
Barnardo’s Scotland hosted a roundtable discussion with many organizations in November 2019, and welcomed a start to national discussions about Supervision in Education.
According to their survey results, Barnardo’s Scotland strongly believes that reflective or professional supervision is crucial for education, first and foremost for the staff themselves, but ultimately for the children and young people in their care. Local and national government and educational bodies are being called on to consider the development of supervision structures for educational staff to support and improve teacher health and wellbeing.
