A New Approach to Supervision

1. A New Approach to Supervision MODULE 3 Facilitative Supervision for Quality Improvement Curriculum 2008

2. Facilitative Supervision (FS) • FS is a system of management whereby supervisors at all levels in an institution focus on the needs of the staff they oversee. • The most important role of the facilitative supervisor is to help staff improve their performance to enable them to: • Manage the quality improvement (QI) and performance improvement (PI) process • Meet the needs of clients • Implement institutional goals

3. Facilitative Supervision (2) • Focuses on helping staff to identify and solve problems through the use of QI, PI, and other tools. • Focuses on process and systems rather than on individuals. • Assists staff in meeting goals they set. • Is continuous, building on past gains while setting higher QI goals.

4. Characteristics of Facilitative Supervisors • Consider staff as internal customers. • Promote joint problem solving and teamwork. • Ensure that decision making is participatory. • Empower providers to monitor and improve their own performance. • Encourage two-way communication. • Accumulate and use technical knowledge. • Promote mentoring, coaching, and provision of constructive feedback. • Delegate problem solving related to day-to-day problems.

5. Facilitative Supervisors Lead the Performance Improvement Process by: • Addressing staff needs • Facilitative supervision and management • Information, training, and development • Supplies, equipment and infrastructure • Enabling staff to continuously improve their performance and the quality of services and to meet clients’ needs • Serving as a liaison between site staff and institution/headquarters/other organizations and sectors.

6. How Do Supervisors Benefit from the Facilitative Approach? • You will be more welcome by staff because you will help staff to solve their problems, rather than criticize them for their faults. • You will have the satisfaction of working as a team member, watching staff learn and grow, and watching quality improve. • Your job will become more fulfilling as your staff’s motivation and commitment increase.

7. How Do Supervisors Benefit from the Facilitative Approach? (2) • When you involve staff in the QI/PI process, you need to solve fewer routine, simple problems yourself. • As other supervisors under your authority learn to supervise in a facilitative manner, you will need to provide them with less technical assistance. • You will gain a reputation as a leader, as an effective supervisor, and as an enabler.