Using Client and Supervision Feedback to Improve Supervision in Health Care

Abstract

This paper seeks to establish a conceptual model of client and supervisee feedback that can be used to improve supervision processes and outcomes in health and social care settings. Supervision is a beneficial practice development endeavor that practitioners find rewarding for various reasons. However, the impact of supervision on client outcomes in health and social care settings is scant and not all supervision is helpful; indeed, harmful and inadequate supervision is also prevalent. Using supervisory measures of the alliance between supervisor and supervisee may be one method to help improve processes and outcomes. In addition, providing client feedback to practitioners in health and social care settings has been established as an evidence-based method to improve psychosocial outcomes. Using this feedback data during supervision may help the supervisory process to focus on practitioner development objectively, and limit the extent of negative client experiences in systems of care. A conceptual model describing bidirectional feedback based on objective assessment is articulated; client to practitioner/practitioner to supervisor. A lack of primary data poses limitations to this review. Thus, future research may like to establish whether integrating these processes together as a conceptual model provides added value.