Introducing our July spotlight on supervision for mentors

Sandra Wilson was recently appointed as the new EMCC UK Deputy Director for Supervision Practice. She is an EMCC accredited supervisor and team coach with a holistic coaching style. Here she introduces herself and also our July Spotlight, which focuses on the supervision of mentors. The Spotlight includes two events – the next meeting of our Supervision special interest group on 10 July, and a panel discussion exploring supervision in mentoring on 17 July. Follow the links to find out more and register.

I am delighted to take on this new role as the EMCC UK Deputy Director for Supervision Practice. We have exciting plans in the supervision space, for example to support greater diversity and inclusion in the supervision profession, and also to encourage more coaches and mentors to experience the benefits of supervision – as well as our ongoing priority of supporting supervisors via CPD and community-building.

In coming to this role, I bring 20 years of experience in coaching and mentoring within the leadership space for public sector employees and charities. I also enjoy working with communities and groups that traditionally lack access to these developmental opportunities. I am an accredited EMCC coach/mentor supervisor (ESIA) and senior practitioner coach, holding a PG certificate in coaching and mentoring, a diploma in team coaching, and an MA in social policy and criminology. I led coaching and mentoring services within the Cabinet Office and the British Transport Police. In 2022, my team and I received the National Coaching Culture Award for Forward Thinkers.

I have written articles for Coaching at Work magazine, and served as a panel member at the Coaching at Work conference, addressing issues of coaching and diversity. I also contributed to the book Black and Menopausal, driven by my commitment to raising awareness about menopause, particularly within African and Caribbean communities. I have presented on this topic at the British Transport Police, City University, and the Bank of England.

July Spotlight on the supervision of mentors

Our EMCC UK Spotlight for July 2024 focuses on the often-overlooked topic of supervision and mentoring. Mentoring is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, benefiting both the mentor and the mentee. However, to ensure the effectiveness and quality of mentoring relationships, supervision plays a crucial role. Supervision in mentoring refers to the support and oversight provided to mentors to enhance their practice, maintain boundaries, and ensure the psychological safety of both parties.

We have a number of resources to share with you this month on this topic.

Christopher McLaverty, EMCC UK’s Director of Mentoring Practice, writes about the mentor’s perspective on supervision. Nicci Statham, a Master Coach and Supervisor, provides the supervisors' viewpoint. These two articles provide different perspectives, each highlighting the importance of supervision as an integral part of the mentoring practice and journey.

You can also listen to a podcast where Nicci Statham and I discuss the role of supervision in mentoring and share our experiences on this topic.

On Wednesday 17 July, we have a panel event where Nicci and I will also be joined by Heidi Thomas, an award-winning researcher who has explored the experience of mentoring for low-income single mothers. Heidi’s research uncovered a clear need for greater supervision of mentors. Nicci and Heidi will explore the benefits of supervision for mentors and how this also serves the mentors’ mentees. There will be an opportunity for you to contribute to the discussion. So do please join us – book here.

Heidi has also written an article with her perspective on why supervision in mentoring is important, offering her recommendations for best practice.

Another highlight of our July Spotlight on supervision is our Supervision Special Interest Group session on Wednesday 10 July. Following a wonderful launch event earlier this year where there was great energy and interest, we are delighted that on 10 July Jeremy Lewis will be presenting. Jeremy is an EMCC accredited coaching supervisor and an exciting emerging voice in supervision research. The session will focus on Meeting your supervisees’ needs: how can supervisors intentionally choose their interventions? Follow the link to book.

Finally, you can listen to newly released episodes from season 2 of our podcast on internal coaching supervision, hosted by Jeremy Gomm and Katharine St John-Brooks.