TY - JOUR
T1 - Supervision practices in allied mental health
T2 - Relationships of supervision characteristics to perceived impact and job satisfaction
AU - Kavanagh, David J.
AU - Spence, Susan H.
AU - Strong, Jenny
AU - Wilson, Jill
AU - Sturk, Heidi
AU - Crow, Natasha
PY - 2003/12
Y1 - 2003/12
N2 - This study examined whether supervision characteristics impacted on mental health practice and morale, and developed a new Supervision Attitude Scale (SAS). Telephone surveys were conducted with a representative sample of 272 staff from public mental health services across Queensland. Although supervision was widely received and positively rated, it had low average intensity, and assessment and training of skills was rarely incorporated. Perceived impact on practice was associated with acquisition of skills and positive attitudes to supervisors, but extent of supervision was related to impact only if it was from within the profession. Intention to resign was unrelated to extent of supervision, but was associated with positive attitudes to supervisors, accessibility, high impact, and empathy or praise in supervision sessions. The SAS had high internal consistency, and its intercorrelations were consistent with it being a measure of relationship positivity. The study supported the role of supervision in retention and in improving practice. It also highlighted supervision characteristics that might be targeted in training, and provided preliminary data on a new measure.
AB - This study examined whether supervision characteristics impacted on mental health practice and morale, and developed a new Supervision Attitude Scale (SAS). Telephone surveys were conducted with a representative sample of 272 staff from public mental health services across Queensland. Although supervision was widely received and positively rated, it had low average intensity, and assessment and training of skills was rarely incorporated. Perceived impact on practice was associated with acquisition of skills and positive attitudes to supervisors, but extent of supervision was related to impact only if it was from within the profession. Intention to resign was unrelated to extent of supervision, but was associated with positive attitudes to supervisors, accessibility, high impact, and empathy or praise in supervision sessions. The SAS had high internal consistency, and its intercorrelations were consistent with it being a measure of relationship positivity. The study supported the role of supervision in retention and in improving practice. It also highlighted supervision characteristics that might be targeted in training, and provided preliminary data on a new measure.
KW - Allied health
KW - Mental health
KW - Supervision
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0345328835&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/A:1026223517172
DO - 10.1023/A:1026223517172
M3 - Article
VL - 5
SP - 187
EP - 195
JO - Mental Health Services Research
JF - Mental Health Services Research
SN - 1522-3434
IS - 4
ER -