The Supervision Contract:

Abstract

Justification is made for the use of a written contract in supervision. Five principles are presented that form the basis for its implementation: the contract (1) clarifies the methods, goals, and expectations of supervision; (2) encourages professional collaboration; (3) upholds ethical principles; (4) documents services to be provided; and (5) aligns supervision with counseling and consultation, two services that currently utilize a written contract with clients. Six general items to include in a contract are presented: (1) purpose, goals, and objectives of supervision; (2) context of service; (3) method of evaluation; (4) duties and responsibilities of the supervisor and supervisee; (5) procedural considerations; and (6) supervisor's scope of practice. Guidelines for the development of a supervision contract are discussed and a sample contract devised by the author is provided.