Clinical Supervision
Support to help you supervise with confidence in Primary Care
What is clinical supervision?
Supervision is a structured process of professional learning and development, providing individuals with regular guidance and support from an experienced professional.
It enables reflective practice and helps to strengthen knowledge, skills, and competence.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) define clinical supervision as:
An opportunity for healthcare practitioners to reflect on and review their clinical practice, discuss individual cases in depth and identify changes or modifications to practice which are required to maintain professional and public safety. It provides an opportunity to identify training and continuing development needs.
What are the different types of clinical supervision?
Clinic / practice supervision
Day-to-day support from a senior clinician, giving staff access to advice, safeguarding guidance, and debriefs to ensure safe, effective care. Models vary by practice, but all staff should have timely access to supervision and on-the-spot support.
Clinical / professional supervision
Regular, structured oversight from an experienced clinician to review cases, reflect on practice, and support professional development. Delivered through 1-to-1s, groups, or peer support, this ensures staff maintain high standards and continue to grow in their roles.
How often should supervision occur?
Supervision is essential for safe, effective practice and professional development.
The frequency will depend on staff experience, competence, and role, but all supervision should be structured to support both practitioners and patient safety.
Clinic / practice supervision
Clinic or practice supervision should be frequent enough to ensure patient safety and provide timely support. The exact frequency will vary depending on the competence of the supervisor and supervisee.
Clinical / professional supervision
The Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) outlines the minimum supervision requirements for staff employed through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS). Each session should last at least one hour to allow for meaningful reflection and development.
Training and resources
Supervisors should be trained, experienced, and supported, and while they may come from a different professional background, they should understand the supervisee’s role and practice.
Advanced Practitioners
Advanced practice development requires an integrated, multi-professional approach to supervision.
Allied Health Professionals
Who can be an FCP (First Contact Practitioner) Supervisor?
A regulated healthcare professional working in primary care who has been appropriately trained and approved to work as a supervisor in line with the quality standards set out in NHS England's Workforce, Training and Education (WT&E) Quality Framework.
At present there is no specific training to become a Roadmap Supervisor like in previous years. Higher education institutes delivering the FCP module run their own supervision sessions including 'what is supervision', challenges etc., alongside specifics to supporting the clinician's portfolio.
You can access Clinical Supervision training via ourselves. There are NHS England resources to aid supervision with:
Personal Development Plan (PDP)
Clinical Observation Tools (COTs)
Clinical Examination Procedures (CEPs)
Case Based Discussions (CBDs)
Significant Event Analysis (SEAs)
GPs
Clinical supervisors:
Ensure safe patient care
Manage workloads
Provide guidance / feedback
Support with workplace-based assessments (WPBAs)
Facilitate reflective learning
Help to identify personal development plans
Help support with wellbeing and try to prevent stress / burnout
NHS England trains and supports GPs to become Educational Supervisors (GP Trainers), with the option of a PGCert in Clinical Education.
General Practice Assistants
NHS England have reported that the effective adoption of this role:
Improves patient access
Improves patient flow
Improves retention and job satisfaction
Reducing time spent by GPs in managing correspondence
Nursing Associates
Clinical supervision provides Student Nursing Associates (SNAs) and Registered Nursing Associates (RNAs) time to learn and reflect to support their professional development and develop the required skills, knowledge and behaviours.
SNAs receive supervision from a practice supervisor, practice assessor and an academic assessor.
RNAs benefit from ongoing clinical supervision to develop professionally and prepare for revalidation.
The Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA) provides a framework for the skills and knowledge required to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council's (NMC) standards for safe practice.
RNAs can become practiced supervisors as they are registered professionals.
Personalised Care Roles
NHS England have developed individual workforce development frameworks for each of the personalised care roles. This includes information about the training, support, supervision, and continuing professional development (CPD) needed to enable them to succeed.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians
The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) offer support when starting in Primary Care.
There is guidance to assist healthcare professionals who have taken or are planning to take on the responsibility to supervise pharmacy learners in practice and to explain the regulatory requirements surrounding the different supervisory roles.
Physician Associates
This is an area under review at present, but guidance can be found via the General Medical Council.
Registered Nurses
Clinical supervision for General Practice Nurses (GPNs) is a structured, formal process for professional support, learning, and reflection that enables nurses to enhance their skills, confidence, and competence. This can be undertaken by colleagues or managers.
Professional Nurse advocates (PNA) can offer Restorative clinical supervision (RCS). RCS is a safe, confidential 'thinking space' to reflect on their experiences, particularly those that are emotionally demanding, to prevent burnout and improve patient care.
To support Student Nurses within practice it is important to be up to date with your Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA) training.