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What is Ethical Reflective Supervision?
What is Ethical Reflective Supervision?
Ethical Reflective Supervision (ERS™) is a professional practice long established in fields such as social work, psychology, and healthcare. Behaviour Navigator adapts this approach specifically for education.
ERS™ supports teachers to:
Reflect on ethically complex situations
Strengthen professional judgement
Clarify values, boundaries, and responsibilities
Sustain professional wellbeing and identity over time
ERS™ is professionally elected by teachers and undertaken as a form of ongoing professional learning, rather than for line-management or coaching purposes.
ERS™ is professionally elected by teachers and undertaken as a form of ongoing professional learning, rather than for line-management or coaching purposes.
Key Features of ERS™
Key Features of ERS™
Opt-in and self-directed
External to school leadership and appraisal systems
Confidential and non-evaluative
Grounded in ethical reflection and professional standards
Aligned with AITSL Professional Standards for Teachers
How ERS™ Supervision Works
How ERS™ Supervision Works
ERS™ sessions are guided by the NAV™ Reflective Practice Framework, a simple, structured model designed to support ethical reflection without prescribing solutions.
The NAV™ Framework
Notice
Pause and reflect on the situation, including thoughts, emotions, context, and competing pressures.
Align
Consider ethical principles, professional responsibilities, and relevant standards (including AITSL), alongside personal and professional values.
Venture
Explore possible ways forward and identify clear, ethical next steps in practice.
The teacher sets the agenda for each session. The supervisor’s role is to support reflection and ethical clarity, not to provide advice or directives.
Session Structure
Session Structure
50–60 minute sessions
Delivered online or in person
Typically monthly or six-weekly
Ongoing participation by professional choice and commitment
Who is ERS™ for?
Who is ERS™ for?
ERS™ is designed for primary and secondary teachers who want to engage thoughtfully with the ethical and professional dimensions of their work.
Teachers often seek ERS™ when they are:
Navigating complex student behaviour or family situations
Managing professional boundaries and role expectations
Experiencing moral or ethical tension in decision-making
Seeking greater clarity, confidence, and sustainability in their practice
ERS™ is suitable for early career, mid-career, and experienced teachers who value reflective professional learning.
What ERS™ Is
What ERS™ Is
Ethical and reflective
Professionally focused
Teacher-led
Supportive without being directive
What ERS™ Is Not
What ERS™ Is Not
Performance management or appraisal
Counselling or therapy
Instructional coaching
Behaviour management training
Ethical Practice and Confidentiality
Ethical Practice and Confidentiality
Behaviour Navigator is committed to the highest standards of ethical practice and professional integrity.
ERS™ sessions are confidential and independent from schools or employing authorities. Supervisors do not report session content to school leadership.
Limits to Confidentiality
Confidentiality may only be breached where required by law, including:
Risk of serious harm to the teacher or others
Mandatory reporting obligations
Court orders
Teachers remain in control of what they choose to share, and participation is always by professional choice.
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