Supervision: clinical development or management control?

Abstract

Traditionally, supervision among health professionals was a somewhat esoteric forum for a privileged few practitioners who would examine clinical case material in order to elicit and improve their therapeutic skills. Today's professional climate demands a supervisory process, beyond such a purist model, which examines virtually all areas of professional activity. This article does not argue for or against the retention of a purist model of clinical supervision but examines some of the hazards of an alternative framework.

Reflective practice and clinical supervision: an interprofessional perspective

“…1996, Clouder 2000). Likewise, recent literature on clinical supervision (Burrows 1995, Yegdich 1998, Bishop & Freshwater 2000, Sellars 2001) reveals differences of opinion about rationale and uncertainties about how the process should be operationalized.…”

“…There is acknowledgement within the nursing literature of the regulatory function of clinical supervision. Indeed the notion of ‘supervision’ is an identified source of resistance to clinical supervision within nursing (Faugier & Butterworth 1994, Burrows 1995, Titchen & Binnie 1995). However, as Gilbert suggests, discussion focuses primarily on the process and potential benefits of clinical supervision for clients receiving health care, the professions and practitioners themselves.…”

A survey of community mental health nurses' perceptions of clinical supervision in Northern Ireland

“…White (1990) pointed out that mental health nursing claims to have adopted clinical supervision based predominately on its close relationship with therapeutic and counselling approaches to care. Burrow (1995) reinforced this when referring to mental health nurses being no strangers to the notion of clinical supervision. However, Thomas (1995) asserted that while clinical supervision may be happening in some areas it is certainly not in others.…”

“…Defining and agreeing the boundaries between managerial control and developmental clinical supervision may not, however, be easily achieved. The tension this debate creates may be gauged from the growing literature on this aspect of clinical supervision ( Burrow 1995, Darley 1995, Fowler 1996, Nicklin 1997, Wolsey & Leach 1997, Bond & Holland 1998, Cutcliffe & Proctor 1998, Jones 1998, Lowry 1998).…”

Clinical supervision revisited

“…Working with clashing meanings is uncomfortable. For example, Burrow (1995) highlights in his work that CS cannot be merely practitioner focused. Whilst recognizing the clinically oriented professional and personal development of supervisees, Burrow notes that health services have identified out that the organization's goals in accordance with organizational and professional standards and management values and expectations also need to be met within CS.…”