Rebecca Frost
Jun 18

What Does Supervision Cost Your Practice?

How much does providing supervision cost your practice?


Are you caught in the trap of offering "free" supervision to your registrars? While it might seem like a logical choice initially, there are significant financial, ethical, and operational considerations to take into account.

Free is not really free

When you offer "free" supervision, it's crucial to recognise that it's not truly free. 

Let’s break it down.

Many organisations bundle CPD and supervision into their recruitment packages for registrars. 

It appears cost-effective on the surface, but have you calculated what this actually costs you?

Offering free supervision only seems cost-free if your time has no value. Have you ever noticed the mounting tasks that never get done, the unpaid bills, outdated software you can’t find time to replace, or that webinar idea still waiting to generate passive income?

Imagine this scenario (assumes an hourly rate of $250 per hour):

  • 80 hours of lost income from your supervisor = $20,000
  • Two years of CPD budget ranging from $2,000 to $8,000
  • Supervision at a discounted rate of 60% still totals $12,000

The total cost for just one registrar could range from $25,000 to $30,000. Curious about how much this could be impacting YOUR practice? Use our free calculator to find out!

Blurring boundaries

As a manager, it's natural to want your team to shine, but effective supervision requires seeing the full picture, warts and all. Balancing the roles of manager and supervisor can be challenging, especially when dealing with underperforming team members. Your duty to protect public interests as a supervisor may conflict with your business goals as an owner.

Outsourcing supervision to PREP ensures impartial, professional evaluations that prioritise clinical competence and ethical standards, freeing you to focus on core business activities and team cohesion.

Time spent supervising is time not spent on retention.

While expanding your practice with new trainees is beneficial, neglecting your existing skilled workforce can be costly. Taking a few minutes to check in, acknowledge birthdays, or offer support during tough times is crucial for maintaining team cohesion. Investing in retaining your current skilled workforce is just as vital as growing your practice. Small gestures go a long way in fostering team cohesion and productivity.

The Psychology Registrar Endorsement Program (PREP) by Benchmark Psychology understands the challenges practice owners face. We offer comprehensive registrar training, including supervision and CPD, at a competitive cost. With PREP, you're assured of top-notch training and support for your registrars.