Words First Support: What Makes a Good Supervision Session?

At Words First, clinical supervision is a cornerstone of our commitment to high-quality, reflective practice. It provides our therapists with a dedicated space to develop their clinical knowledge and skills, reflect on their practice, and ultimately enhance the support they offer to children and young people.

We spoke to Kaho, one of our experienced Speech and Language Therapists and Clinical Supervisors, about what makes a great supervision session. Drawing on her experience working in school-based settings, she shared six key ingredients that contribute to meaningful, impactful supervision.

1. Clear, Focused Goals

Good supervision starts with a shared understanding of purpose. Sessions are most productive when they have clear, focused goals that meet the unique needs of the supervisee.

“I always begin by learning my supervisees’ preferred supervision styles and by agreeing what supervision means to us both,” says Kaho. “I also encourage supervisees to identify topics they’d like to explore—whether that’s discussing a complex case, preparing for a training session, or reflecting on challenging conversations.”

At Words First, supervisors take a proactive approach by getting to know their supervisees’ caseloads and settings. This helps ensure supervision is tailored, goal-oriented, and rooted in everyday realities.

2. Empathetic and Active Listening

Trust and safety are essential for reflective supervision. A supervisor who listens with empathy creates space for openness, honesty, and growth.

“Supervisees know their schools best,” explains Kaho. “They’re in those environments every day. Simply giving them time to share successes and challenges often leads naturally to reflective thinking.”

By showing genuine interest and validating each supervisee’s experience, our supervisors create a safe and supportive environment—where all voices are heard.

3. Collaborative Working

At Words First, we believe that supervision is most effective when it’s collaborative—when both supervisor and supervisee bring their knowledge and experiences to the table.

“I love engaging in joint problem-solving,” says Kaho. “We brainstorm ideas together, and I always aim to match my level of guidance to each supervisee’s experience and confidence. It’s about striking a balance—supportive but with enough challenge to promote independence.”

This partnership approach respects the unique skillsets of our therapists and helps build confidence in clinical decision-making.

4. Developing Reflective Thinking Skills

Reflective thinking is a vital part of ongoing professional development—and is a requirement of both the HCPC and RCSLT. At Words First, we embed reflective practice into every supervision session.

“I often use a three-part reflection structure,” Kaho shares. “First, we reflect on what happened in a session or situation. Then we explore what went well and what didn’t—and why. Finally, we form an action plan to support even better outcomes next time.”

This structured reflection builds clinical insight and a mindset of continuous learning.

5. Providing Constructive and Actionable Feedback

Feedback is most valuable when it’s practical and actionable. Whether it’s around therapy delivery, case management, or administrative tasks, our supervisors aim to offer feedback that therapists can use immediately.

“Rather than just pointing out areas for improvement, I give clear strategies or resources that my supervisees can use straight away,” explains Kaho. “And if they need more specialist input, I help connect them with clinical leads across Words First.”

This solution-focused approach helps therapists grow with confidence and support.

The Value of Good Supervision

At Words First, we see supervision as more than a checklist—it’s a space for connection, growth, and clinical excellence. A good supervision session is one that is structured, collaborative, and underpinned by empathy and reflection.

“To me,” says Kaho, “a good supervision session is focused, supportive and reflective. It’s a space where supervisees can share, think, grow, and walk away with something useful—something that helps them be the best therapist they can be.”

We are proud to offer a culture of supervision that supports our therapists at every stage of their journey.