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Supervision:

The Supervisor Reflection Tool (SRT): Enhancing Leadership in Peer Work 

by Jay Culkin, Tyrus “TJ” Curtis, and Maria Fuentes

Introduction 
Effective supervision is essential in fostering growth, accountability, and team cohesion. The Supervisor Reflection Tool (SRT) is an innovative resource designed to help supervisors refine leadership practices, particularly when working with Family Peer Advocates (FPAs). This tool supports supervisors in navigating their responsibilities while ensuring they cultivate an empowering and productive work environment. 

Behind every successful team of strong peer advocates should be a supervisor who provides guidance, evaluation, and supportive follow-up that aligns with the core values of peer advocacy. Youth Peer Advocates (YPAs) have a unique set of standards for their practice and their work benefits from Supervisors who thoughtfully perform their duties. The Supervisor Reflection Tool (SRT) will serve as a starting point for a supervisor’s journey to creating an environment of excellence and opportunity. 

A Supervisor Reflection tool is a great addition to any peer supervisor’s toolbox. It offers guidance and support to collaboratively use, teach and learn alongside peers. Peers thrive in collaborative approaches. Their lived experience is aligned to teamwork, as they need to learn to navigate systems in collaboration with others to support their loved ones. Many peers are also well versed in recovery language which supports their knowledge of navigating complicated systems for survival. Tools like these are a must have for self-reflection and further learning for Peer supervisors across the lifespan. 

What is the SRT? 
The Supervisor Reflection Tool (SRT) is a structured self-assessment and reflection framework. It enables supervisors to evaluate their leadership practices, identify areas for improvement, and implement actionable changes to enhance their effectiveness. 

This tool is a way for supervisors to consider and evaluate their alignment with peer values and take inventory of strengths and areas of growth for their programs. It allows for supervisors to remedy any issues with role clarity in their programs as well.   

The SRT was strategically created to provide family and youth peer supervisors with skill building strategies while teaching best practices in supervision in order to foster those supervisory skills needed for the professional success of the peer, supervisor and agency as a whole. 

Developing the SRT 
The SRT was developed based on collaborative research with experienced supervisors across multiple disciplines. By incorporating feedback and real-world insights, the tool was tailored to address common challenges faced by supervisors, including those in peer advocacy settings, ensuring its relevance and ease of use. This collaboration helped the team create tools across the lifespan, while recognizing and highlighting the similarities as well as the differences across peer types. 

Who can use the SRT? 

The SRT is designed for supervisors at all levels, from novice managers to seasoned leaders. It is particularly valuable for those overseeing Family Peer Advocates, Youth Peer Advocates, or peers in similar roles, as it helps them balance guidance with the unique needs of peer workers who draw on lived experiences to support others. The SRT should be used for anyone who supervises a member of the peer workforce or anticipates doing so.  

How to Use It 
Using the SRT is straightforward and involves the following steps: 

  1. Allocate some time for reflection during your day. 
  1. Use the tool’s guided prompts to assess recent interactions, decisions, and outcomes. 
  1. Document any insights – remember this is for your own self-reflection purposes  
  1. Identify specific goals for personal and team development. 
  1. Revisit previous reflections to measure progress and refine approaches. 

** Overall, have fun with it! This is meant to be a self-supportive non-punitive tool. Remember “we can’t know what nobody has told us”. All of these skills are teachable and can also be learned. 

Benefits of using the SRT 
Supervisors use the SRT to improve self-awareness, communication, and decision-making. It enables them to reflect on their leadership style and adapt to the needs of their teams. For supervisors working with FPAs, it provides specific insights into supporting advocates in their emotionally demanding and boundary-sensitive roles. 

For supervisors working with YPAs, it provides guidance in taking into respectful consideration the Youth perspective and bringing role clarity to a position that has a complicated but valuable role in a Youth’s experience in their program. Overall, Supervisors will gain a more detailed awareness and appreciation when supervising Peers across the lifespan.  

Advantages of Using the SRT 

The SRT is highly recommended for supervisors in any field, especially those working with FPAs, YPAs and peer workers across the lifespan. This tool is easy to use, adaptable, and highly effective in fostering both personal and professional growth. This tool’s structured yet flexible design ensures it can accommodate varying leadership styles and organizational needs. For supervisors of FPAs, the tool is invaluable in addressing the unique challenges of peer work, enabling peer advocates and specialists to thrive and make a meaningful impact. 

Furthermore, in the short term, supervisors can expect immediate improvements in their clarity and confidence. The tool helps resolve communication issues, boosts morale, and fosters a supportive team environment. Supervisors working with FPAs may also notice enhanced trust and collaboration with their team members. Long-term use of the SRT leads to sustained professional growth, stronger team dynamics, and improved service delivery. For FPAs and YPAs, this means better support in navigating peer roles, reduced burnout, and greater advocacy effectiveness, which ultimately benefits the families and communities they serve. 

You are invited to take a look at these tools which are in the “resource” section of our PeerTAC website at www.PeerTAC.org The links for the SRT are included here for each peer type. Happy self-reflection!