Application of a connecting practice model in group telesupervision: A pilot study of supervisee expectations, experiences, and attitudes

ABSTRACT

Clinical supervision can be resource-intensive and deprioritised over direct care. This study trialed combining group and online modalities to potentially overcome these issues. Data from supervisee focus groups explored their expectations, experiences, and attitudes before and after group telesupervision. A thematic analysis identified: (i) pre-established expectations and processes are critical; (ii) experienced clinicians can benefit from group telesupervision; and (iii) the clinical supervisor plays a diverse role. Organizations could benefit from specialist telesupervision consultants to overcome the cost and loss of productivity associated with clinician travel for supervision, where remote clinicians require specialist supervision, or where COVID-safe supervision is required.

KEYWORDS:

• Clinical supervision
• connecting practice
• group supervision
• professional education
• telesupervision

Acknowledgement

The research team wish to formally acknowledge the support of Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools for this research and the participating SLPs.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kate Bridgman

Kate Bridgman is a speech pathology academic at La Trobe University. Her clinical and research areas include telehealth, stuttering, and clinical practice.

Shane Erickson

Shane Erickson is a senior lecturer and researcher from the Discipline of Speech Pathology at La Trobe University. He is a speech pathologist who specialises in the management of stuttering across the lifespan.

Lisa Furlong

Lisa Furlong is a senior lecturer and Research Fellow at Flinders University in speech pathology. She is a paediatric speech pathologist who works with children with literacy difficulties.

Hannah Stark

Hannah Stark is a speech pathologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Research in Effective Early Childhood Education Centre at the University of Melbourne.