The Practical Aspects of Implementing Clinical Supervision Within an Organization in Transition
This paper examines the inception a of clinical supervision program in the South Australian Public sector, the philosophy on which it is based, practical aspects of implementation, challenges regarding staff resistance and opportunities for improved practice.
The health services in South Australia are in a process of change. Mental health services are moving from geographically based services to integrated program based services using recovery based principles based on the work of Helen Glover . Clinical Supervision for Mental Health nurses only occurs sporadically and is unknown in some parts of the service. Anecdotal evidence would suggest that there is a high degree of apathy and indeed suspicion around Clinical Supervision amongst Mental Health Nurses. Despite previous attempts to launch Clinical Supervision for Mental health services in South Australia it is still not part of usual clinical practice. Through a pilot program being supported by the Nursing Office in South Australia clinical supervision is being trialled. The longer term goal is to create a working environment in which clinical supervision is an integral part of evidenced based practice and education in the workplace.
The program draws extensively on the work of John Driscoll using a reflective and solution focussed approach toward clinical supervision. The project is being externally evaluated with a series of pre and post questionaries for both supervisors and supervisees.