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Supervised Experience

BASES Supervised Experience is a programme of professional development, skill acquisition and supervised practice providing the environment and guidance to facilitate development as a sport and exercise science practitioner.

Supervised Experience has been developed for aspiring sport and exercise scientists and is the recommended route to gaining BASES Accreditation for individuals earlier in their career, who do not have the extensive experience required to apply for accreditation via the direct route.

Whilst on the scheme, Supervised Experience aims to provide the necessary opportunities and support to facilitate the development of the competencies needed to obtain BASES Accreditation as a sport and exercise scientist.

Individuals registered for Supervised Experience are entitled to use the title ‘BASES Supervised Sport and Exercise Scientist’ until accredited, as long as they remain registered on the programme.

What are the criteria for applying for BASES Supervised Experience?

To register onto Supervised Experience the applicant ("Supervisee") must:

  • Be a BASES member
  • Hold an undergraduate degree in sport and exercise science* or equivalent in a related and appropriate subject
  • Be registered for, or have a completed postgraduate degree in sport and/or exercise science or equivalent in a related and appropriate subject.
*BASES Undergraduate Endorsed Scheme (BUES) degrees are preferred but not essential, as the course content of BUES degrees has been recognised as meeting the standard for enrolling on the Supervised Experience Scheme.

How do I register for Supervised Experience?

You can register onto Supervised Experience twice a year, in Spring and Autumn. 

Registration periods are, 1 March - 14 March (midnight) and Autumn, 1 September - 14 September (midnight).

You must complete the online application form. You will need to complete and upload the following documents with your application:

  • Copy of undergraduate degree certificate
  • If undergraduate degree was not BUES, a copy of undergraduate degree transcripts, Appendix 1 'Non-BUES Degree - Evidence of Knowledge Template' and Appendix 2 'Laboratory Experience Template'
  • Evidence of postgraduate study, including one of the following:

    - Transcripts and module descriptors for current registration for a postgraduate degree or
    - Copy of official university letter confirming registration onto a postgraduate degree or
    - Copy of completed postgraduate degree certificate and transcripts

You must also have a contract in place with a BASES Registered Supervisor (click here to view the directory).

BASES Code of Conduct

All BASES members must abide by the The BASES Code of Conduct. This states that “Members must ensure that suitable insurance indemnity cover is in place for all areas of work that they undertake”.

Information for applicants, supervisors and reviewers

Overview of the Supervised Experience process

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Completion Process

When you have received feedback on your final submission from your Reviewer, there is a formal process you must follow to be officially signed off from the SE Programme. Without completing this you cannot apply for Accreditation. As per Appendix 2 in the SE Guidelines, the following documents ONLY need to be available to the BASES Office. This is best achieved by copying these documents into a single folder and sending an access link to education@bases.org.uk.

-Competency Profile, signed by both supervisor and reviewer
-Practice Log, signed
-Backdated Practice Hours log (if applicable), signed
-Supervisor final report
-Reviewer final report
-CPD Log and supporting certificates
-Confirmation evidence of completed postgraduate degree
-Non-BUES degree - Evidence of knowledge template; required if a learning proposal was submitted upon SE registration for any missing hours. Where these gaps have been filled during SE, evidence of this is required and links included to where and when this evidence have been obtained
-2 Client references

If all the above are in order then a Completion letter will be provided. This and payment are all that is needed to then apply for Accreditation. If anything is deemed incomplete or missing, then the submission will be sent back for amending.

These completion submissions can take time to review so please do not expect them to be reviewed within a 72hr period. They can be submitted to BASES anytime throughout the year except during the months of December or June. Any applications submitted during these months will not be accepted.

Supervised Experience workshops

As part of the SE process, there are core and elective workshops which must be attended whilst on the SE programme. These are as follows:

Core Workshops

  • BASES Entry workshop
  • BASES Ethics and Confidentiality workshop
  • BASES Reflective Practice workshop
  • BASES Understanding Your Client workshop
  • BASES Safeguarding Welfare in Sport and Exercise Science

Elective workshops

  • 2 BASES endorsed workshops (including Division days/events) or
  • 2 days attendance at the BASES Annual Conference or Student Conference or
  • 8 BASES webinars

Programme costs

SE Administration Fee – £210* (includes Entry Workshop fee)

4 x Core Workshops:

  • Ethics and Confidentiality - £105
  • Reflective Practice - £105
  • Understanding Your Client - £52.50
  • Safeguarding Welfare in Sport and Exercise Science - £52.50

2 x BASES workshops, including Division days/events (variable costs) or cost of BASES Conference attendance (from £159)

  • Supervisor Costs – to be agreed between supervisee and supervisor

At its meeting on 16 November 2020, the BASES Board agreed not to advise on supervisor fees, noting this is an arrangement negotiated between the supervisee and supervisor. If a supervisee is facing financial hardship, they should share this with a prospective supervisor within their pre contract discussions. An example template contract can be found in the guidance documents. 

*Note: The administration fee is non-refundable once the registration form has been submitted. Any cancellations or withdrawals received up to 14 days before the workshop are subject to a 50% cancellation charge on the workshop fee (£105). All workshop fees are forfeited thereafter. Please note that if a delegate does not cancel and does not attend, then they are still responsible for payment. Further details at: http://www.bases.org.uk/Workshop-Booking-Informati...

Guidance documents, forms and completed examples

Guidance Documents

Supervised Experience Guidelines

Guidance Notes For Assessing Non-BUES Degrees

Case Study Guidelines

SE One Drive set up guidelines

Forms

Appendix 1 for online application; 'Non-BUES Degree - Evidence of Knowledge Template'

Appendix 2 for online application; 'Laboratory Experience Template'

Practice Hours Log  

Backdated Practice Hours Log

Competency Profile * updated October 2021

Record of CPD

Supervisor Report Form

Supervisor/Supervisee contract example

SE Reference Template

Completed Examples

Completed example of Appendices 1 and 2 and Learning proposal

SE Competency Profile*please note the BASES competency profile has been updated Oct 2021 to reflect the new CSci standards and examples in this section will not currently reflect these changes. 

Completed Case Study Example

BASES endorsed degrees (BUES)

The BASES Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme (BUES) provides a reliable list of meticulously tested courses and ensures that students’ investments are rewarded with a high standard of education. Individuals who have a BUES undergraduate degree will be considered as having the required level of underpinning technical knowledge and understanding for Supervised Experience registration and therefore will not need to provide as much academic evidence as part of their application.

Upon SE registration, individuals are required to identify whether they have completed a BUES undergraduate degree.

If the Supervisee has not undertaken a BUES degree, then they must complete Appendix 1 & 2 of the Registration form.

To see a list of all BUES courses, click here.

The role of Supervisors and Reviewers

Supervisors and Reviewers

BASES Registered Supervisors and Reviewers are BASES Accredited professional members who have been accredited for 2 or more years and have experience in mentoring or developing staff or peers.

All Supervisors and Reviewers have attended a BASES workshop which draws on the experience and skills of existing Supervisors and ensures that all Registered Supervisors and Reviewers are well prepared to be able to successfully support Supervisees through the BASES SE process.

Click here to search the directory of current Registered Supervisors.

Supervisors

The role of a BASES Supervisor is to successfully guide and support the Supervisee during their SE period so that, on successful completion of SE, the Supervisee is safe and fit to practice as a Sport and Exercise Scientist.

A Supervisor will be expected to provide appropriate levels of contact time and experiences along with access or introductions to potential client groups (relevant to the domain of expertise), to help acquire the required hours of supervised practice and to be able to support the growth and development of the Supervisee. The Supervisor is expected to ensure that they use/expose the Supervisee to a full range of methods for development, to include:

  • observation of practice
  • working jointly with the supervisee
  • group case study discussions
  • one to one meetings
  • interaction via phone, email
  • recommendation and advice about relevant training courses and workshops/conferences

Reviewers

The aim of the SE process is for the candidate, with the support of his/her supervisor, to be able to demonstrate to the reviewer that he/she fully meets the requirements in terms of qualifications (knowledge), understanding and experience to be considered safe and fit to practice as a Sport and Exercise Scientist.

Reviewers will have a total of 3 submissions to review throughout the Supervisee’s SE journey, each evidencing how he/she is developing with regards fulfilling the competencies necessary to complete SE and apply for Accreditation.

This reviewing process, combined with the input of the supervisor(s), should ensure that candidates do not get to submit their final portfolio report and be judged to be significantly below the standard required to successfully complete SE.

At each stage of the process, the reviewer must compare the evidence submitted by the Supervisee and judge whether, in their view, the evidence provided demonstrates the Supervisee has achieved a particular competency or competency statement. By its nature the on-going assessment of a SE portfolio and associated evidence has a subjective bias to an objective process; it is not simply a process of obtaining ticks in a series of boxes. 

Information for Supervisors and Reviewers

Interested in becoming a BASES Registered Supervisor or Reviewer?

If you are interested in becoming a Registered Reviewer or Supervisor (or both) for the Supervised Experience scheme, you must attend the Association’s Combined Supervisor/Reviewer webinar. The webinar will run every Spring and Autumn in preparation for accepting new applicants onto the scheme.

The purpose of the webinar is to ensure that Supervisors and Reviewers are well prepared to successfully support practitioners through the BASES Supervised Experience process. The webinar outcomes are to ensure all attendees have:

  • A clear understanding of BASES supervised experience and accreditation, including aims and outcome Explanation of the Supervised Experience process and logistical requirements
  • A clear understanding of the expectations of the role of supervisor within the supervised experience process
  • The opportunity to share experience of best-practice supervision principles.

The webinar will draw on the experience and skills of existing Supervisors and Reviewers. In order to be accepted onto the webinar applicants must:

  • be a BASES professional member
  • have been BASES accredited for a minimum of 2 years, or be able to demonstrate relevant experience in supervising or mentoring practitioners
  • have experience in mentoring or developing staff or peers.

Webinar applicants will be asked to provide details of:

  • a working portfolio within the discipline/area of expertise they plan to supervise in
  • their proposed mode of operating, in terms of interfacing with their Supervisees, including minimum time commitments (i.e. one to one, group sessions, case study reflection, email/phone contact)
  • any prior mentoring/supervising training.

Reviewers are paid a set fee (£60 upon final review) by BASES for each complete review undertaken. 

Supervisors must agree with their Supervisees, any fees they may charge and the level of support/time commitment they will provide. BASES strongly advises that an agreement of some sort is made on paper to reflect this and to protect both parties.

At its meeting on 16 November 2020, the BASES Board agreed not to advise on supervisor fees, noting this is an arrangement negotiated between the supervisee and supervisor. Members wishing to become a Supervisor should recognise that it is the responsibility of the potential supervisor to have an initial meeting with the SE candidate (supervisee) and to be honest about costs and supervision practices before engaging in any support. The supervisor should also take into account the financial position of the candidate (supervisee) and the additional costs the supervisee will have already incurred, in order to make an appropriate assessment of the proposed fee.

Supervising and Reviewing for BASES Supervised Experience also earns CPD credits towards Re-accreditation:

bases_cpd_5pts_logoSupervised Experience Reviewer -  10 credits per completed candidate, 5 for an incomplete candidate
bases_cpd_5pts_logoSupervised Experience Supervisor - 5 credits per supervisee per year of supervising up to a max of 20 credits per supervisee
bases_cpd_5pts_logoSupervisor/Reviewer Workshop Presenter - 10 credits per workshop

Supervisor Guidelines

Supervisor Report Form  

Reviewer Guidelines

Reviewer Feedback Form

Supervisor/Supervisee contract example

Complaints procedure

  • BASES is aware that while its goal is to provide a gold standard training and development process in the Supervised Experience route, there may well be occasions where the supervisee or supervisor wishes to raise a complaint with the organisation about some aspect of the training.
  • It is recommended that both Parties (the supervisee and supervisor) draw up a written agreement prior to proceeding with the Supervised Experience to ensure both the supervisee and supervisor are aligned on the expectations and outcomes of the training, development and process (please see a sample Supervisor-Supervisee Agreement, which is not a legal template)
  • In addition, both Parties are encouraged to keep a record of progress (or concerns) through the Supervised Experience.
  • The Parties’ complaints will be considered via a two-level process. The first level is where there is a complaint that can be addressed at a local level (e.g. between the supervisor and supervisee). This is to be considered as more of an informal complaint and will not require any further action at a BASES committee level.
  • If the complaint is more substantial (e.g., it is about the supervisor, or the supervisee, or dissatisfaction with behaviour and/or conduct of anyone involved with the Supervised Experience process, etc.) then it will be considered a ‘formal complaint’ and the Party is required to outline the grounds for their complaint in writing to the Chair of the Accreditation Committee, care of the Professional Standards Administrator (please email education@bases.org.uk). Note that where a formal complaint is raised, the information pertaining to the parties and the complaint will be held for the purpose of mediation and complaint management. This information will held for a period of six years after which it will be destroyed, unless there is another complaint during that period involving either party. Should any subsequent complaints be lodged during that period, the information will be held for a further six years’.
  • The Chair of the Accreditation Committee, via the Professional Standards Administrator, will be responsible for responding to the complaint within 10 working days to outline how the complaint will be managed. The outcome of the complaint will also be recorded under ‘reserved business’ at the next Accreditation Committee meeting, but personal details will be anonymised.
  • It is important that Parties are aware that all complaints are treated in the strictest of confidence, and that the Party will not be disadvantaged in any way having raised a complaint. It is preferred that all complaints are resolved in an informal way and that the Party discusses the issue with the Chair of the Accreditation Committee, prior to making any formal, written, complaint.
  • For some occasions, it may be possible to request mediation from members of a BASES Division Committee representative and/or the Board, depending on availability.

Testimonials


Supervised Experience Testimonial Videos 

Below are two short videos by SE candidates, they talk about their SE journey and experience, covering the following: 

  • Motivation to undertake the programme
  • The process
  • The length of time it took
  • The support provided
  • The overall experience
  • Feedback they were given
  • Advice for potential applicants


Philip Smith, CSci 

Occupation: Lab technician for Teesside University

Discipline: Physiology

Application category: Support 



Jordan Tyrer, CSci

Occupation: Lead Academy Sports Scientist (U9-U16s) at AFC Bournemouth.

Discipline: Interdisciplinary

Application category: Support


Dr Matthew Weston, Senior Football Researcher
Football Performance & Science Department
Aspire Academy

'BASES Supervised Experience (SE) provides an excellent opportunity for aspiring and current Sport and Exercise Scientists to develop their skills and experience. The ten competency areas are structured in a way so as to ensure candidates develop a holistic theoretical and practical skillset and the logging of practice hours and associated reflections provides a structured process for on-going development. Further, the completion of a case study presents candidates the ideal opportunity to pull together their experiences for the benefit of an end-user (e.g., athlete, client etc.). When combined with a review process that is open and constructive facilitates, and a quantifiable supervisor-candidate relationship, BASES accreditation via SE is peer recognition of being fit to practice'.

BASES assistance support for candidates on Supervised Experience and SEPAR

BASES assistance support for candidates on Supervised Experience and SEPAR

BASES offers to support members on either Supervised Experience (SE) or SEPAR, the Sport and Exercise Psychology Accreditation Route, who are in financial difficulty. The Assistance Fund is capped at £1,000 per year in total.

Financial Assistance will be considered, on a case-by-case basis to contribute (up to 50%) to core learning activities taking place over the next six months or so (from the date of application).

Applicants must be:

• current BASES members; and
• enrolled on BASES Supervised Experience or SEPAR; and
• in genuine hardship or financial insecurity inhibiting their training.

Support will be prioritised for candidates facing genuine financial hardship.

The fund will be open from May 2024 until the total fund has been allocated. A new fund will then hopefully be available from April 2025.

Only one successful application can be made per person in a 12-month period.

Details of the assistance programme can be found here.

To apply, SE or SEPAR candidates must submit a completed application form (via this link).

(Updated Sept 2024)

About BASES

BASES stands for the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. BASES is the professional body for sport and exercise sciences in the UK.

Contact us
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  • 07838 153258