Can clinical supervision sustain our workforce in the current healthcare landscape? Findings from a Queensland study of allied health professionals

Abstract

Objective Clinical supervision is widely recognised as a mechanism for providing professional support, professional development and clinical governance for healthcare workers. There have been limited studies about the effectiveness of clinical supervision for allied health and minimal studies conducted within the Australian health context. The aim of the present study was to identify whether clinical supervision was perceived to be effective by allied health professionals and to identify components that contributed to effectiveness. Participants completed an anonymous online questionnaire, administered through the health service’s intranet. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with community allied health workers (n = 82) 8 months after implementation of structured clinical supervision. Demographic data (age, gender), work-related history (profession employment level, years of experience), and supervision practice (number and length of supervision sessions) were collected through an online survey. The outcome measure, clinical supervision effectiveness, was operationalised using the Manchester Clinical Supervision Scale-26 (MCSS-26©). Data were analysed with Pearson correlation (r) and independent sample t-tests (t) with significance set at 0.05 (ie the probability of significant difference set at P < 0.05). Results The length of the supervision sessions (rs ≥0.44), the number of sessions (rs ≥ 0.35) and the total period supervision had been received (rs ≥ 0.42) were all significantly positively correlated with the MCSS-26© domains of clinical supervision effectiveness. Three individual variables, namely ‘receiving clinical supervision’, ‘having some choice in the allocation of clinical supervisor’ and ‘having a completed clinical supervision agreement’, were also significantly associated with higher total MCSS-26© scores (Ps < 0.014). Conclusion The results of the study demonstrate that when clinical supervision uses best practice principles, it can provide professional support for allied health workers, even during times of rapid organisational change. What is known about the topic? The provision of clinical supervision for allied health staff is being increasingly adopted within the Australian health context. However, current approaches to clinical supervision for allied health are fragmented and poorly coordinated. There have been limited clinical supervision studies undertaken in Australian allied health populations, and little is known about the evidence for outcomes in this cohort. What does this paper add? The findings of the present study indicate that clinical supervision, when based on best practice principles, can provide professional support and guidance to allied health workers, even when staff are experiencing significant change in the workplace. The article describes specific elements of the clinical supervision infrastructure that appear to be critical for effective professional support outcomes. What are the implications for practitioners? Effective clinical supervision can provide professional support to the allied health workforce. Healthcare organisations can facilitate effective clinical supervision delivery by ensuring that evidence-based principles are embedded in the infrastructure of the clinical supervision practice.