Welcome to these pages about me and my professional practice

Kaitiakitanga and supervision

Kaitiakitanga and supervision are words generally accepted across professions in Aotearoa to describe a relationship between practitioners that supports well-being and good practice. In my view, kaitiakitanga and supervision also give strength to resistance and to the courage required to bring about change.

What happens in this professional relationship depends on what is negotiated between us, and the agencies we work for, and incorporates our ethical responsibilities and professional accountabilities. It is about well-being, future aspirations, learning, and the relationship between who we are and the people and communities we work alongside. It offers time away from the everyday, to untangle, and think in new ways about our mahi and about social justice. Ultimately, the goals of both kaitiakitanga and supervision are to ensure best practice and hauora, and to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations and the partnerships we hold. 

Kaitiakitanga and supervision have things in common but are not interchangeable. Kaitiakitanga reflects Māori principles related to guardianship and protection. Kaitiaki are holders of this responsibility, and this role is sometimes applied in the same way as supervisor or mentor. The term “supervisor” doesn’t suit everyone, particularly when the relationship is external to the organisations we work for. For some it doesn’t comfortably reflect the nature of the work or the type of relationship aspired to. Part of developing a professional supervision or kaitiaki relationship, is jointly determining the nature of your relationship, and defining the boundaries of the work you will do together. This is unique for every partnership. 

For example, there will be different expectations regarding how kaupapa and tikanga Māori are incorporated into supervision practice, and everyone will have different skills, knowledge and aspirations in the regard. There are many cultural qualities which impact on the relationship, including ethnicity, age, gender, religion, etc, and the process of whanaungatanga assists to understand how these qualities may impact on the relationship, and determine how well suited practitioners are to work together. 

What happens when we meet?

Supervision is many things, and what happens when we meet is always negotiated. If you are new to kaitiakitanga or supervision, it is the role of the kaitiaki or supervisor to guide you through the boundaries of the work, to support you to think about what to talk about, and help you consider how to do this. If you are an experienced practitioner, you will be able to build on what you have learned previously, and negotiate what type of relationship will be most useful to you and your practice. 

I welcome practitioners to my home, or I work part time from an office in central Kirikiriroa (Hamilton), and am open to travelling to alternate spaces. I am comfortable using “distance technology” (Skype, Zoom, Teams), and keen to creatively support and develop this way of meeting for those interested. Practitioners often choose a combination of all three ways of meeting. 

Please feel free to contact me if you want to discuss working together:

+64 21 081 92344

stanfield.deb@gmail.com

You can also read a bit more about me on the next page.