Clinical supervision schemes
Health service staff are all expected to have clinical supervision; see for example www.nmc-uk.org (July ‘06) for the Advice Sheet on its use for nurses. Clinical governance requires it; using or providing good clinical supervision enables valuable links to the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) — (Core Dimensions 1 communication, 2 personal and people development, 4 service improvement, 5 quality) at increasing levels as skills grow.
Clinical supervision is intended to help people work smarter and encourage decision-making, responsibility, pride in our work, and better patient care. Yet there is still confusion about what it is, and exactly how to go about establishing a robust yet flexible scheme which won't make impossible demands on time and resources for hard-pressed clinicians.
I’ve been fortunate to have an opportunity to develop a way of doing this by working with staff from around 17 NHS Trusts, and am now employed to offer this work across an entire Trust. Using my ‘4S’ model, (Structure, Skills, Support, Sustainability), I work with a whole group to introduce a sound structure backed by management; teach potential supervisors a simple, respectful solution focused approach to doing supervision over a 2–day course; and build in a method of support and ongoing learning for the new supervisors, as well as considering how the organisation will continue the scheme into the future.
"Carole offered us the solution-focussed model and finally everything fell into place. Staff at all levels have been trained and I have been thrilled by their previously untapped abilities. The staff have been very keen and have thoroughly enjoyed learning the new skills and we are looking forward to putting our new clinical supervision scheme into practice".
I’ve found that managers and clinicians usually ask for:
- A clear definition of clinical supervision: neither line management, clinical teaching, counselling, nor policing, this is a way of professionally facilitating the supervisee’s thinking and helping them to ‘work smarter’
- Guidance on policy, contracts, procedures and decisions needed to set up a sound scheme that will last;
- Brief, effective supervisor training for volunteers, using a specific approach that will give practical, usable skills and a respectful and professional attitude which will help supervisees to think for themselves (see article);
- A way of maintaining continuous support and ongoing learning for all.
"We have received excellent support this year from Carole in setting up a robust support system for our Speech and Language Therapy Department.
Carole’s experience and skills have helped us to get started and are inspiring us to continue.
The usefulness of the solution focused approach extends far beyond supporting staff within the department. The skills learned can be applied to training students, more generally when working with other professionals and where appropriate with parents."
I welcome initial contact to discuss whether I can be of help in developing a suitable, sustainable scheme with your organisation.
Contact me for further details on any of the above.