How Does Clinical Supervision Impact on Staff Development?

The aim of the study was to examine how clinical supervision
impacts on staff development within acute paediatric care settings. The author analysed existing work, definitions and understanding of clinical supervision and explored the experiences of clinical supervision on staff working in paediatric wards and the effect of the clinical supervision on staff development.
The first part of this study was quantitative and involved
participants who were registered child health nurses and nonregistered nursing staff (n= 24). The second part was a qualitative study, involving registered child health nurses (n=4) and nonregistered staff (n=2). The research was carried out at two acute paediatric wards at two hospitals comprising one NHS Trust.
The research incorporated a mixed-method approach. Initially
a quantitative study using the Likert scale of measurement was conducted inviting all participants of clinical supervision to be involved. Secondly, a qualitative study, informed by phenomenology, was conducted using semi-structured interviews.
While the image of clinical supervision continues to require
embedding within nursing culture, positive effects of clinical supervision on paediatric staff development such as reflection on practice, autonomy and problem solving, are experienced by the participants.Development, as a result of clinical supervision, occurs both on a personal professional level and on a team level. Further study into
the view of managers on the importance of clinical supervision and the role of the supervisor is required.