|
Melissa Barker-Simpson
I have been a qualified interpreter since 2004 and have held a variety of roles since then, each of which has benefitted my own personal and professional development. I currently work full-time as manager of a local interpreting service and this gives me an opportunity to share my skills and knowledge while learning and developing within a diverse and talented team. I am passionate about improving my practice and helping others to do the same. After training to become a professional supervisor with 360 Supervision, in June 2022 I successfully completed my Diploma in Supervision for Sign Language Interpreters and Allied Professionals. For me, at its core, supervision is about the relationship. It is finding a safe space, without judgement, where dialogue can take place. As a supervisor I will provide that space in order for supervisees to explore, reflect and learn from their experiences. As interpreting professionals our jobs are varied and the success of an assignment is dependent on a number of factors. These include; our knowledge and experience, the background or level of context we have, or the amount of preparation. Even when all these factors work together and an assignment goes as expected, there are always times when something gets in the way. It could be a human element, relational, or external pressures we find ourselves battling against. Often, in order to understand what is going on we need to unpack it, take a step back, and look at things from different perspectives. Supervision allow us to do that. Through a trusting relationship and an honest open dialogue, learning happens on a deeper level. We can be guided to see patterns and behaviours, to look at an issue from various angles, and in doing so, improve our practice. That is what I love about supervision, and what I hope to work with my supervisees to achieve - to learn and grow, to improve practice and to ensure they are taking care of themselves. |
