Interprofessional Clinical Supervision in Mental Health and Addiction: Toward Identifying Common Elements

Abstract

This study explores the experiences and perceptions of clinicians from a range of professions to articulate general principles for clinical supervision in mental health. Seventy-seven volunteer clinicians participated in 14 focus groups in 2008–2009. They discussed their perceptions about clinical supervision, facilitators, and barriers. Discussions were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim, and qualitative analytic methods were used to identify themes and exceptions. The study found frontline clinicians identified interacting factors they associated with quality clinical supervision. Themes related to the structure, content, and process of supervision and contained common elements across professions and those that were specific to nursing. Considerable agreement exists regarding principles for interprofessional supervision in mental health; that it is available on a regular and crisis-responsive basis, and that supervisors are expert in clinical interventions for specific populations and have the skills for teaching and supporting staff. Some nurse participants expressed unique perceptions about clinical supervision based on their professional traditions and approaches, which requires further study before advancing a common model of supervision across professions.

KEYWORDS:

• clinical supervision
• interprofessional
• organizational change

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by The Office of Nursing Practice and Professional Services, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Institutional Grant, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto. The authors wish to acknowledge The Advanced Practice Nurses/Clinicians Steering Committee, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Ms. Sarah Manson for their assistance with this project.