Group supervision: topics, process and outcome

Abstract

Supervision has been defined as “a formal process of professional support and learning which enables individual practitioners to develop knowledge and competence, assume responsibility for their own practice and enhance consumer protection and safety of care in complex clinical situations” ( Department of Health (DoH), 1993). The study analyzes topics, process and outcome of a Leader-Led Peer Group Supervision, inside a TC for psychiatric patients. The group was head by an expert group-analyst, whose role was not to solve the supervisee's clinical problems, but to work with supervisees to help them to develop and manage their practices (Mackereth, 1997). The research project aims to recognize which factors influence the outcome of group supervision. The main hypothesis is that supervision, improving the ability of relationship between group members, allows to work on burnout and self-esteem levels. This process might improve job satisfaction and, indirectly, the quality of care for psychiatric patients. According to International studies about the most important therapeutic factors of group psychotherapy (Yalom, 2005), was been evaluated outcome variables (Burnout, Professional qualities, Personal Self-Esteem, Group Self-Esteem), process variables (Group Cohesion, Supervision Aptitude), and topics of the group. Data should confirm that supervision has an effect on social workers wellbeing, and thereby on the quality of their work. On the basis of these results it should be possible to infer that Supervision reduces the daily difficulties experienced by social workers in their job, especially in problematic context like a Therapeutic Community. Moreover data might confirm that supervision has an effect on social workers wellbeing, and thereby on the quality of their work. This pilot-study doesn’t want to draw a conclusion, but just thoughtprovoking about the role of therapists in the field of Mental Health.