Clinical supervision effectiveness in NHS nursing, medical and allied health professionals: Exploring interaction with workplace factors, supervision factors and burnout.

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to (1) determine if a variety of workplace and supervision factors predict clinical supervision effectiveness; and (2) establish if clinical supervision effectiveness predicts burnout, amongst a variety of mental health staff (medical, allied health, and nursing staff).

Design: The study adopted a multicentre cross-sectional online survey design.

Methods: Participants included 204 mental health staff (89 allied health staff, 81 nursing staff, and 34 medical staff). The Manchester Clinical Supervision Scale (MCSS-26) was used to measure clinical supervision effectiveness, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS) was used to measure burnout. Linear regression analyses and multiple regression analyses were conducted.

Results: The main findings suggested that supervision frequency, supervision duration, choice of supervisor, workplace setting, and supervisee profession, were all significant predictors of clinical supervision effectiveness. Additionally, clinical supervision effectiveness was a significant negative predictor of burnout.

Conclusions: Workplace and supervision factors should be considered in supervision practice across professional groups. Policies need to promote effective clinical supervision practice.