A study of the current structure and content of professional supervision for occupational therapists in Ireland

Introduction: Professional supervision is a collaborative process which provides a forum for guidance, support, reflection and learning. The aim of this research is to establish the current structure and level of commitment to... [ view full abstract ]

Introduction:
Professional supervision is a collaborative process which provides a forum for guidance, support, reflection and learning. The aim of this research is to establish the current structure and level of commitment to professional supervision of occupational therapists in Ireland. It explores the opportunity that supervision provides for reflective practice and the impact of the supervisory relationship on the experience.
Method:
In this quantitative study the Supervisory Relationship Questionnaire (SRQ) was distributed to members of the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland agreeable to participating in research. A response rate of n=112 was achieved. Descriptive statistics were then derived using SPSS software. Ethical approval for this research was granted by the University of Limerick Ethics Committee.
Results:
There is a commitment to professional supervision among the respondents with the majority of supervision being provided by internal sources. Overall supervision is presented as a positive experience with mutual respect, well-structured sessions and a safe environment. A small percentage of respondents did indicate challenges within the supervisory relationship. The element of supervision that showed the most need for development was that of reflective education.
Conclusion:
Supervision is seen as a valued component of Occupational Therapy Practice for the respondents in this research. Further research using a qualitative methodology to explore the experience of both supervisees and supervisors is recommended.
Application to practice:
Supervision is a valued component of Occupational Therapy Practice. It appears that training for supervisors could be of benefit in increasing the educational value of supervision.