Reflection__Supervision

FOUNDATION DEGREE IN EARLY YEARS CARE AND EDUCATION Professional Practice Log Name: | Sian Lewis | Date: | 1st December 2009 | Notes / Comments: (Give a brief description of the activity or incident then describe what you were feeling at the time, how did you react and why, what was informing your decision or reaction) | For the purpose of this log I will be using the Gibbs model of reflection.I have been working as a casual member of staff since September 2009. I work on a regular basis of every afternoon throughout the week in one setting and some mornings in other settings, and have yet to receive any form of formal supervision.Flying start aims to provide consistent and flexible nursery care to children and families living in deprived areas. Many of the children attending the groups have already been placed on the child protection register, or are in the processes of being placed on there. A large percentage of the children attending are also on the child in need or ‘At risk’ registers and receiving a lot of help, along with their families, via portage, family support and intervention, and regular visits or contact from health visitors, setting leaders and social workers. This lack of supervision worries me as I have very limited, or no formal ways of expressing any concerns, summarising any incidents and recording any achievements. Although I now feel confident enough to be able to approach other staff and leaders with worries I may have, I think it would be of more benefit to myself, the setting, other staff and the children if some sort of formal supervision was offered. Despite being able to discuss any concerns with other staff, I have no-one to discuss any problems I may have with other staff members.On numerous occasions I have often wondered if the work I am completing is correct, if I am providing the children with the activities and support that they need and If there is anything I could be doing differently. I occasionally get a few minutes to discuss things with the setting leader whilst a session is taking place, but this time is not substantial enough to enable me to discuss anything in detail. The lack of supervision offered frustrates me as I also have no formal feedback about the work I am completing. A lack in positive encouragement or constructive guidance has left me feeling de-motivated on occasions as I do not always know whether I am doing everything correctly, or if what I am doing correctly is worthwhile. | Reflection(What did you learn, what would you do differently, do you have any future professional development needs as a result of this') | Since beginning this Foundation Degree and researching subjects such as safeguarding children, alongside my employment in Flying Start, the importance of and need for regular staff supervision and support has been highlighted on numerous occasions. Lord Laming stated in his report following the death of Victoria Climbie that all staff working with any children should undergo regular staff supervision, (Hunter 2009).On reflection I feel that the introduction of regular supervision for casual staff such as myself would not only be of benefit to the children because of guidance and support for better practice, but it would also give me the opportunity to voice any concerns I may have on the practice of other staff working within the settings. This, I feel, would avoid any bad feeling within staff teams and enable any concerns to be dealt with appropriately. Supervision should already be in place for any members of staff or volunteers who come into contact with the children with the specific aim of better safeguarding and promoting their rights through choice, developmental aims, dignity and protection.I am unsure of the reasons as to why I have not received any supervision, but, on reflection, perhaps I could have done more by this point in time to ensure my I receive it in the future. I feel confident that I have reported any concerns that I may have within the setting yet I would prefer some of the more serious ones to be recorded in case of any implications in the future. For example, when noticing marks or bruises on children, I feel that it should be formally recorded each time. Key workers are ideally meant to record any marks noticed on the child and discuss with parents, however, this is not always the case as I have heard other members of staff stating ‘I completely forgot’, or ‘I’m sure it is nothing, Child X’s parents are lovely’. This kind of attitude can be very dangerous in relation to some of the children attending the setting as many of them are at risk from suffering abuse in their homes. As an outcome of this reflection, I feel as though I now need to arrange a meeting with the setting leader or line manager enabling me to arrange some form of formal supervision or meeting to discuss my concerns, and also to enable me to receive feedback on my work personally, enabling me to adapt it and or continue as I am doing. | Signed Student: | | Date: | | HUNTER, M. 2009. Poor supervision continues to hinder child protection practice[WWW] http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2009/04/22/111327/Poor-supervision-continues-to-hinder-child-protection.htm