2025 SPA Expert Insights - Context Driven Assessment Supervision

Assessment supervision is a constant and challenging juggling act of managing the many components of assessment to ensure a valid and meaningful process and outcome for the client while supporting the trainee’s learning and increased ownership of their skills at every step of the way. Just as with each client’s, the unique cultural and contextual factors of each trainee may be relevant for the assessment and supervisory relationship. Within an often-limited amount of time available, assessment supervisors must identify the trainee’s skills level and needs, consider their individual circumstances towards effective learning, and work towards empowering both trainee and the client when navigating their next chapter in training and life. This presentation will discuss the common challenges and rewards in assessment supervision and some key components considered important to supervisors and trainees. It also aims to specifically address three goals in assessment supervision: 1. Offer one way to identify the initial individual needs of trainees and their progress across multiple areas of assessment (including but not limited to developing referral questions, conducting clinical and cultural interviews, accurate administration, scoring, and interpretation of various methodologies and measures for data gathering, ability to integrate and conceptualize findings meaningfully, and provide feedback whether verbal or in writing in an effective manner). 2. Help ensure consideration of cultural and contextual factors for the trainee and client for an individualized and meaningful assessment and supervision process and outcome. 3. Incorporate advocacy and empowerment for both trainee and client.

Presenter: Hadas Pade