Reaccreditation

Reaccreditation FAQs

Why do I need to be reaccredited as supervisor in the Methodist church at all?

The church is committed to ensuring that all those who offer supervision under its policy are trained and approved to do so. Supervisors are on a lifelong journey and will need to improve their skills as they go. While the church is not formally assessing the ability of a supervisor every five years, assurance of ongoing learning and a willingness to reflect on their own practice is essential and that does need to be assessed and reviewed. This should ensure that a standard of competence is maintained for the benefit of everyone in the active work of ordained ministry, those in key lay work positions and those they minister to.

How long does my approval to supervise last for?

Supervisors are approved for five years post accreditation. The letter sent when a person is approved to supervise carries a date of approval. Five years on from this date is the date by which re-accreditation is required.

I was a very early adopter of the training to be a supervisor. I’m not sure if I ever had a letter or at least I can find one.

The connexional team keep a careful record of training and approval to supervise. If you are unsure or need more guidance then you can contact supervision@methodistchurch.org.uk

How do I know that I need to ask for re-accreditation as a Supervisor?

The team will write to you when you are one year away from your re-accreditation date and send a simple form to help you offer evidence of all the things you need to. An example of that form can be found here.

I have more than four years to go why are people writing to me now?

Some of those accredited in the very early days of the supervision programme may not have realised the value or importance of ongoing development. We are notifying them early so they have plenty of time to ensure their development days are up to date and they have room to ensure they can do extra if needed.

What will I need to show evidence of to be reaccredited?

• A record of a minimum of 40 hours continuing development (this is equivalent to just short of a day a year since your original approval). It can be drawn from any kind of learning you have completed including external courses, events offered through the Learning Network or similar, professional body events (such as APSE gatherings) and a limited amount of book learning.
• Confirmation that you have been supervised on your own supervisory practice (this can be shown through your existing supervision records or if preferred using a bespoke form for the process).
• Attend a supervision of supervision course provided connexionally. (This is only relevant if you supervise other supervisors as part of your work.)
• A note of the hours of supervision offered to others during the two years immediately prior to the re-approval year.
• Two references from supervisees about your supervision in context.

I am a very early adopter of Supervision and my deadline for reaccreditation is earlier than August 2023. Is there and flexibility in what learning and development I need to have completed for people like me?

Whilst we are of a view that the gold standard remains as follows

• A record of a minimum of 40 hours continuing development (this is equivalent to just short of a day a year since your original approval). It can be drawn from any kind of learning you have completed including external courses, events offered through the Learning Network or similar, professional body events (such as APSE gatherings) and a limited amount of book learning – 8 hours.
• Confirmation that you have been supervised on your own supervisory practice (this can be shown through your existing supervision records or if preferred using a bespoke form for the process).
• Attend a supervision of supervision course provided connexionally. (This is only relevant if you supervise other supervisors as part of your work.)
• A note of the hours of supervision offered to others during the two years immediately prior to the re-approval year.
• Two references from supervisees about your supervision in context

…. we do concede that it has been particularly difficult for anyone who was unaware of the details until last summer and that they may be finding it hard to make up the required Learning & Development (L&D) hours.

As a result it has been agreed that anyone who is due to be re-accredited, up to and including the end of the connexional year 22/23, will have to provide evidence of only 24 hours of Learning and Development. This includes 8 hours book learning and of course any short sessions attended at Superintendents’ conferences, district events etc. They should then commit to regular refresher training each year to be certain that their skillset is maintained.

It is though worth noting that anyone who supervises other supervisors, either whilst training or longer term, will still need to attend one of the supervision of supervision training events as soon as their diary permits. These in themselves account for 24 hours of L&D. 

If I have led training in some way does that count towards developmental learning?

Yes it does. Especially if you have been leading supervisee briefings or sessions within other meetings – say superintendents gatherings or similar. It also counts if you are on the facilitation team for Responsible Grace. We all learn new things as we teach so it’s okay for this work to be a part of your development.

I have been on an externally provided certificate or diploma course. Does this count?

Yes it does.

I regularly go to my regional APSE sessions and we do development work there does that count?

Yes it does.

How much reading counts towards my learning & development hours?

You can claim up to eight hours of book learning. This of course applies to books related to the subject of supervision. You can find a book list here.

What records do I need to keep?

No records are required to be submitted or scrutinized until the application for re-accreditation is submitted. However it would be really useful for you to note, as you go along, the following.

• How many hours of development you have undertaken. This includes preparation videos and reflective work. Post course reflection and book learning (up to eight hours on books related to supervision). Keep a list on your phone, in a notebook or similar.
• How many times you have been supervised on your own supervision practice. The supervision policy states that each supervisor should be supervised on their supervisory practice. Here is the simplified quote

Supervision of supervision: those engaged to supervise by the Methodist Church …………….. receive supervision on supervision equivalent to 10% of the time they offer as supervisors (eg, if supervising six ministers six times per year for 90 minutes they receive at least 4.8 hours of supervision during the year for this work) but not less than an hour per quarter.

You should be able to pick this up from the Agreed Records if you are not able to remember clearly. It may be that you have gotten out of the habit of taking supervision to supervision or forgot that you needed to. If that’s the case then please start now to ensure its part of the routine. Your supervisor should help you remember that it needs to be brought to supervision too.

• The hours of supervision you have offered. Names are not needed but a log of hours offered is a really helpful thing.

A simple log might look something like this:

Is the church trying to find an easy way to have this information recorded?

Yes. The church is developing a new database and part of that work will be to provide a safe place to store information about any ongoing learning a minister undertakes. This will include supervision. We will of course let you know when it is ready to use. In the meantime we have created a simple form that you could complete as you go. You can find it here.

Who can I ask about reaccreditation if I have another question?

You can contact the supervision team at supervision@methodistchurch.org.uk

What counts towards the L&D element of the reaccreditation hours?

Things that count and can be recorded

• Book learning on any aspect of Reflective Supervision – up to 8 hours 
  A list of suitable books can be found here
• Video or TED talk style learning
• Podcasts about Supervision
• Sessions attended at the Superintendents’ conference – workshop & keynotes – either live or after the event
• Any L&D session provided in Reflective Supervision in the District or by the Learning Network details of events can be found here
• The Supervision of Supervision course (Responsible Grace II)
• Any input offered in Chair’s meetings in Reflective Supervision
• Any input offered in Superintendent’s meetings locally in Reflective Supervision
• Any teaching offered as a supervisor (see FAQs)
• Any formal courses by approved external providers
• Any APSE meetings or sessions attended
• Time offered as a training facilitator or lead trainer