An MST-FIT supervisor opens up on the benefits of attending a supervisor training
Being an MST supervisor can be very isolating. Often, we work in silos with our own team(s) in agencies that only have one MST program, and we feel like we are the only one going through these unique challenges. Attending the autumn 2015 Advanced Supervisors Workshop in New York reminded me that there is a whole community of supervisors out there ready to encourage and support me in my growth.
This workshop will be offered again this spring, March 17 and 18, in Charleston, S.C. I encourage any supervisor who is thinking about going to go. You won’t regret it. I sure didn’t.
The topic of the workshop is “Creating the Team that Realizes the Dream: Hiring and Retaining MST Therapists” and will be facilitated by Diane Kooser and Lori Moore of MST Services.
This topic impacts so many areas for which I am responsible. Ultimately, for me, it is about providing the very best MST possible to kids and families. It is critical to hire and retain good MST therapists so as to achieve positive outcomes for youth and families. The research says it over and over, and I’ve lived it. Over and over.
Takeaways from the workshop
What I enjoyed most about the workshop was:
- The opportunity to come together with other supervisors in a supportive and encouraging environment. I saw the supervisor community that I am a part of—and just knowing they are out there is helpful. I was able to form new relationships with my peers who I now keep me encouraged. This has been affirmative for me—there are others who struggle with the same things I do, and they have helpful ideas and strategies to share.
- I loved learning more about the effective use of the MST Hiring Toolkit. Specifically, this workshop helped me think about engaging my agency to increase our use of the steps of the hiring process to really help me recruit top-notch therapists. (After all, hiring good therapists is the first step to keeping them.) I also appreciated learning more about spotting red flags when interviewing and advocating for the right hiring when I see those red flags. This has stayed with me and is now part of my hiring practices.
- Finally, I know we all say this and then grunt, but I really enjoyed the role-playing throughout the training. It was so helpful to see how others handle things in different ways. The demonstration of a wide variety of approaches for retaining staff gave me new strategies that I continue to practice.
Since the training, I find myself going back to what I learned—really thinking about how those small practical things I can do will make my job as an MST supervisor far more efficient. I find myself thinking about how things that only take a couple of minutes, such as nominating someone for an MST WIT (Whatever It Takes) award or sharing with my agency administrators the stories of how hard my MST therapists are working, can go a long way in helping folks know how much they are appreciated—which leads to staff retention. I have a seasoned therapist on my team join me in the interview process, helping me with the role-plays, which not only gives me an additional perspective of the candidate, but tells that therapist just how much I appreciate him or her.
If you are thinking, “I have too much on my plate to go away to a two-day workshop,” I’d respond, “You have too much on your plate not to.”
Sign up now by clicking here. You will be glad you did.
Lanée Goddard is an MST-FIT Supervisor at Sheltering Arms Children and Family Services Limited Secure Placement/Aftercare Program in New York.
If you're interested in attending more MST related events, consider attending the MST pre-conference at Blueprints on April 11. More information here.
