Blog

A workplace supervisor is the glue that holds everything together when it comes to the working relationships between employees. They know each employee’s role within the company. They guide and assist trainees or apprentices to work and develop their skills as effectively as possible. They are there to instruct apprentices and trainee and there are many things you as a workplace supervisor can do to make your communication and supervising duties more effective.

Supervisors have an extremely important role to play when their company hosts an apprenticepower apprentice. The main responsibility of the workplace supervisor is to deliver structured training in conjunction with and assistance by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Supervisors need not only be active on the work floor; there’s actually a lot which needs to be done than the on the job training of apprentices/trainees. As a supervisor you will also need to organise and record training activities undertaken in the workplace and provide assessment evidence to the RTO.  Workplace supervisors need to assist the learner in gaining access to equipment and training as needed or shown in the Training Plan.

Tasks

A good workplace supervisor is responsible for:

• Providing a safe and supportive workplace for all the trainees or apprentices

• Integrating learning tasks into work activities to help apprentices develop themselves in the most effective way

• Managing risk and safety while training, to make sure all the trainees and apprentices are working in a safe environment

• Being a role model and giving the right impression of appropriate work attitude

• Meeting with the RTO on a regular basis to ensure effective training

• Managing the apprentice/trainee’s training needs and motivation

• Helping the apprentice/trainee to develop problem solving skills and general employability skills

• Providing trainees/apprentices with feedback and encouragement

• Promoting independence and self direction in learning and maintaining records of progress

Prepare to be the BEST

Coaching includes all the efforts you make to motivate others, teach them about the work, develop their skills, provide them with feedback and recognize their achievements.

The following are a few tips in coaching effectively:

• Acknowledge what the apprentice or trainee already knows
• Explain the big picture by providing examples where necessary
• Explain what the trainee or apprentice will achieve
• Provide the trainee or apprentice with their choice of learning – eg written instructions or be shown
• Give the learner the opportunity to practice the skills being taught
• Encourage initiative and innovative thought by listening to the learner’s ideas and providing feedback
• Let the apprentice/trainee know how and how often you are going to communicate with them
• Make sure your instructions are clear and simple and are not more complex than necessary
• Thinks about how you are going to ensure a two-way communication flow
• Are your expectations realistic?
• Ensure you have a supportive learning environment and immediately act on any bullying or harassment.

To sum up being a supervisor with apprenticepower is challenging but when it is successfully done, it is a very fulfilling job.