Effective clinical supervision for regional allied health professionals: the supervisor’s perspective
Margaret Dawson A D , Bev Phillips A B and Sandra G. Leggat CA Ballarat Health Services, Queen Elizabeth Centre, 102 Ascot Street South, Ballarat, Vic, 3350, Australia. Email: bevph@bhs.org.au
B La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Vic, Australia.
C Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, 3086, Australia. Email: S.Leggat@latrobe.edu.au
D Corresponding author. Email: MargaretD@bhs.org.au
Australian Health Review 37(2) 262-267 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH11164
Submitted: 22 March 2012 Accepted: 10 October 2012 Published: 18 March 2013
Abstract
Objective. To explore the effectiveness of the current clinical supervision (CS) processes for allied health professionals (AHPs) at a regional health service from the perspective of the supervisor.
Method. A mixed method study with two phases, involving AHPs across nine disciplines, employed at a regional health service and providing CS. In the first phase 14 supervisors participated in focus groups which were followed by the completion of a questionnaire by 26 supervisors.
Results. Focus group results indicated confusion between CS, line and performance management and mentoring. Clinical supervision was perceived to contribute to the quality of patient care and reflective practice. The challenges of time for busy clinical staff were reported. The questionnaire response rate was 52.1% and the mean total score for the questionnaire was 162.96 (s.d. 13.47), being 76% of the maximum possible total score. Clinical supervision was considered to improve care quality despite the avoidance of addressing personal issues. Identified CS improvements included empowerment through education, resources development, streamlined documentation and use of best practice protocols.
Conclusions. The results identified AHP supervisors’ perceptions of CS and possible improvements to CS processes, including differentiating CS from line management, protecting CS time and the provision of critical feedback.
What is known about the topic? There are limited published reports about CS for AHPs, with AHP supervisor experience and knowledge not previously reported.
What does the paper add? This is the first study to identify current supervisor understanding and practice of CS for AHPs.
What are the implications for practitioners? CS is a valued activity, the effectiveness of which may be supported by education and resources.
References
[1] ACHS. Clinical governance defined. The Australian Council on Health Care Standards Newsletter. 2004: 1–2.[2] Hyrkäs K. Clinical supervision, burnout and job satisfaction among mental health psychiatric nurses in Finland. Issues Ment Health Nurs 2005; 26 531–56.
| Clinical supervision, burnout and job satisfaction among mental health psychiatric nurses in Finland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[3] Teasdale K, Brocklehurst N, Thom N. Clinical supervision and support for nurses: an evaluation study. J Adv Nurs 2001; 33 216–24.
| Clinical supervision and support for nurses: an evaluation study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[4] Sloan G, Watson H. Clinical supervision models in nursing: structure, research and limitations. Nurs Stand 2002; 17 41–6.
[5] Kavanagh D, Spence S, Wilson J, Crow N. Achieving effective clinical supervision. Drug Alcohol Rev 2002; 21 47–52.
[6] Winstanley J, White E. Clinical supervision: models, measures and best practice. Nurs Res 2003; 10 7–32.
[7] Hawkins P, Shohet R, editors. Supervision in the helping professions. 2nd ed. Buckingham: Open University Press; 2000.
[8] Faugier J, Butterworth T. Clinical supervision: a position paper. School of Nursing: University of Manchester; 1994.
[9] Best D. Clinical supervision and leadership in community health – literature review. Melbourne: Victorian Health Care Association; 2008.
[10] Winstanley J. Manchester clinical supervision scale. Nurs Stand 2000; 14 31–2.
[11] Kilminster SM, Jolly BC. Effective supervision in clinical practice settings. Med Educ 2000; 34 827–40.
| Effective supervision in clinical practice settings.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[12] Cutcliffe J, Butterworth T, Proctor B, editors. Fundamental themes in clinical supervision. New York: Routledge; 2001.
[13] Dawson M, Phillips B, Leggat SG. Effective clinical supervision for regional allied health professionals – the supervisee’s perspective. Aust Health Rev 2012; 36 92–7.
| Effective clinical supervision for regional allied health professionals – the supervisee’s perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[14] Liamputtong P. Qualitative research methods. 3rd ed. Melbourne: Oxford University Press; 2009.
[15] Kelly B, Long A, McKenna H. A survey of community mental health nurses’ perspectives of clinical supervision in Northern Ireland. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 2001; 8 33–44.
| A survey of community mental health nurses’ perspectives of clinical supervision in Northern Ireland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[16] Yegdich Y. Clinical supervision and managerial supervision: some historical and conceptual considerations. J Adv Nurs 1999; 30 1195–204.
| Clinical supervision and managerial supervision: some historical and conceptual considerations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[17] Murphy M, Wright D. Supervisees’ perspectives of power use in supervision. J Marital Fam Ther 2005; 31 283–95.
| Supervisees’ perspectives of power use in supervision.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[18] Henderson P, Ferguson-Smith A, Johnson M. Developing essential professional skills: a framework for teaching and learning about feedback. BMC Med Educ 2005; 5 11–7.
| Developing essential professional skills: a framework for teaching and learning about feedback.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[19] Bowles N, Young C. An evaluative study of clinical supervision based on Proctor’s three function interaction model. J Adv Nurs 1999; 30 958–64.
| An evaluative study of clinical supervision based on Proctor’s three function interaction model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[20] Minot S, Adamski T. Elements of effective supervision. Perspect Psychiatr Care 1989; 25 22–6.
