Why Independent OTs Need Supervision

Just because you work for yourself doesn’t mean you should work by yourself.

As an occupational therapist, your decision to move into independent practice will be unique to you. There are many reasons therapists decide to make the move from statutory services to independent practice.

A common drive is to deliver services to clients in different ways, often connecting back to the holistic core of occupational therapy and client-centred practice, alongside having more control over your working hours and building flexibility into your working practice.

Perhaps you have a bigger mission or purpose that your OT skills can help you achieve.

There are unique challenges within independent practice.

It can feel clinically isolated: Alongside the flexibility of autonomous working comes the realisation that you miss the team to bounce ideas around with, or the debrief over a cuppa back at the office. You find yourself looking for a place to discuss or explore concerns. A safe environment to be vulnerable and honest about any self-doubt that is creeping in, and someone to encourage you to keep being brave.

Learning OT business Skills: How did that happen? A desire to deliver OT services differently led to the realisation that you now own a business, yes, even as self-employed, you are owning and running an OT business. I don’t remember a module on OT business skills at university, do you? So, where do we learn these skills? Who can you ask for support? Do you know anyone with their own practice, and if so, do they have time to support you? You might spend time searching on the internet or using ChatGPT for information and processes. If so, this is a sign that you may need to reach out for OT supervision.

Emotional load: You are used to holding space for your clients, but now you recognise that you need someone to do that for you. It is essential to ask yourself questions about what you need, who can provide it, and whether anyone can assist with both clinical and OT business support. This new step into independent practice aimed to reduce the emotional load, not add to it, and it can, with the proper support. You strive to create a sustainable OT business, not one that leads to burnout.

Work and life balance: Are you chasing a dream, or can you make this your reality? You can make it your reality. However, you must be clear on your core values and boundaries, and learn to reflect, adjust, and review these regularly, to ensure your actions align with them.

If the challenges are unique, then the OT supervision should be too.

Clinical sounding board: Finding a space that can provide that clinical sounding board is key. Regardless of your years of experience, we all need a safe space to explore our clinical reasoning and decision-making. To have the opportunity for deep reflective practice, to view things from different perspectives, to have our views validated or challenged (in a constructive way).

OT business: That's right, we all need space to explore the work ‘on’ business. To keep developing our OT business skills to build a sustainable business. There is a potential trap of working so much ‘in’ the day-to-day of the business, that we lose sight of our original mission and aims for creating it. We all need help to reflect on our processes and procedures, to understand how to market and build our offer, and how to connect with clients and commissioners. Perhaps you would like to develop an offer in the online space but are unsure where to start.

Wellbeing: OT supervision is more than just professional and personal development. We are all human, and we all have various occupational roles that we are trying to manage. As we build our OT businesses, it is essential to take care of ourselves. Having a space to share how we are feeling and doing is essential. It is part of living mindfully and building that sustainable and flexible business. One that meets our unique needs.

Growth Mindset: We have explored numerous unique aspects of working in independent practice, and all of these need a growth mindset. Now, that does not mean we are always on it. But it does mean we need support to recognise when we need to review, reflect and adjust our thinking and, importantly, our actions.

Finding the right fit, the right OT Supervisor.

I would like to welcome you to my world of OT supervision. These unique aspects of support are available to you. I provide professional, personal, OT business and wellbeing support through my OT supervision packages. These include 1:1 and group supervision options. I also offer a private community space for you to connect with other occupational therapists (OTs) working across the UK. Most OTs working with me are in independent practice, alongside a few of our NHS colleagues who are accessing external supervision. My mission is to change the view of OT supervision across the profession, to recognise the value of person-centred support, encompassing professional, personal and wellbeing support for all OTs.

How will you know if I am the right fit for you? Please book a call. We will spend 30 minutes chatting, giving you time to see if I am the right fit for you. I will always aim to meet you where you are. In case you didn’t know, I have been working in independent practice for 10 years and counting; this is the type of support I wish had been available to me.

 Takeaway

• OT Supervision is a necessity, not a luxury, for independent occupational therapists.
• Just because you work for yourself doesn’t mean you should work by yourself.
• OT Supervision can provide you with professional, personal, OT business and wellbeing support with a community of like-minded OTs to learn and grow together.