Introduction to Telephone Group Clinical Supervision: A Teleconference

1. Introduction to Telephone Group Clinical Supervision A Teleconference by John Driscoll for the Foundation of Nursing Studies 24th January 2008 (19.00 – 20.00)

2. What I hope we can achieve with this teleconference tonight • Briefly review some of the distinguishing features of clinical supervision so that we all begin in the same place • Briefly review some alternative methods in clinical supervision other than face to face encounters • Experience the group telephone process first hand as a participant • Share previous project experiences and get some tips and hints for making the most of the group telephone clinical supervision process • Raise awareness of some specific contractual issues to consider with this method of clinical supervision e.g. roles and responsibilities • Be able to make a more informed choice about whether to commit to joining a facilitated telephone clinical supervision group in the future

3. Some distinguishing features of professional (clinical) supervision • A planned and intentional event in practice with agreed boundaries from the start e.g. confidential • An opportunity for regular reflection on practice with others that moves towards demonstrable actions or a changed perspective on practice • A formal process of practitioner support and practice based learning that will also impact on service delivery • Differs from, but can enhance managerial supervision • A flexible process as no one model will fit all • Is supervisee ………..not supervisor led • All supervisors ……..are also supervisees!

4. Some alternative methods in clinical supervision other than face to face encounters • ‘Ear to Ear’ auditory individual or group telephone (or radio) supervision • ‘Eye to Eye’ and ‘Ear to Ear’ visual and auditory supervision at a distance i.e. video-conferencing • Finger to Finger’………….text based remote individual or group supervision i.e. email or internet chat • Digital, satellite, infra-red, video or mobile technologies of the future?

5. Why the need for alternative methods in clinical supervision… …..from the face to face encounter….why are you here tonight?

6. Some reasons for alternatives to the ‘face to face’ supervision encounter • The flexibility of alternative methods might lead to increased uptake in practice • Wider geographical range to access supervisors • No need to have to travel to meetings – eco friendly and cost efficient • Neither has to be fully fit to participate • Easier to challenge someone you cannot see • Feelings of privacy and being safe to talk • More opportunities for accurate recording and working on supervision issues at a later date

7. Some emerging themes from the TCSG project (Driscoll et. al. 2006) • Having the correct equipment and a suitable environment • Getting the process established to suit all • Communicating effectively with each other as a group • Personal attributes for undertaking clinical supervision • Publication of working guidelines

8. Some individual learning and outcomes by participating in the TGCS project (Driscoll et. al 2006) • Feelings of being supported and more energised • A realisation that others in the group faced similar issues • A way of getting to know others personally as well as professionally • Some concerns about commitment to the group process i.e. attendance • More acceptance of hearing other views • More able to challenge personal contradictions in practice

9. Two questions when considering Telephone Group Clinical Supervision… What is ONE thing so far tonight you have learned about the telephone process itself? What is ONE thing you need to know if making a contract for this form of group clinical supervision?

10. Specific contractual issues to consider with telephone group supervision • How feasible to meet prior to beginning? • Group format? (Proctor 2000) outlines four types of group • Protocols to speak? • Assigning different roles to match the format e.g. presenter / supervisee, facilitator (s), peer supervisors, process reviewer, scribe, timekeeper • What happens about non attendance? • The timing and duration ..end of a long day? • Confidentiality- taped sessions?, email follow up? Who is responsible for what? • International timings – dressing gown / suit?

11. Some group supervision styles (based on Proctor 2000) • Authoritative Group: the supervisor is responsible for supervising each participant in turn – supervision in a group. • Participative Group: The group supervisor is in charge of the supervision but invites other group members to participate and learn how to co-supervise each other – supervision with a group • Co-operative Group: Supervisor acts as facilitator for the group with participants sharing and actively involved in the co-supervision of each other – supervision by a group • Peer Group Supervision: No permanent supervisor, participants share overall responsibility or take turns to be the facilitator

12. Where would you like to go from here? What needs to happen now?

13. Evaluating whether we met our original intentions tonight….. • Briefly review some of the distinguishing features of clinical supervision so that we all begin in the same place? • Briefly review some alternative methods in clinical supervision other than face to face encounters? • Experience the group telephone process first hand as a participant? • Share previous project experiences and get some tips and hints for making the most of the group telephone clinical supervision process? • Raise awareness of some specific contractual issues to consider with this method of clinical supervision e.g. roles and responsibilities? • Be able to make a more informed choice about whether to commit to joining a facilitated telephone clinical supervision group in the future?