Clinical supervision: an appropriate term for physiotherapists?

The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of physiotherapists engaged in clinical supervision. It aimed to indicate whether physiotherapists understood the purpose of clinical supervision and whether the term affected their understanding and use of the process. The study is set in a physiotherapy department in an acute District General Hospital. Sixteen potential participants were contacted, eight qualified physiotherapists consented to take part. The study adopted a qualitative approach using semi-structured audio-taped interviews which were transcribed prior to content analysis.

A key finding was that the physiotherapists did not have a clear understanding of the purpose of clinical supervision in relation to other support available, for example annual appraisal and rotational reviews. Tensions arose for those who associated clinical supervision with line management and appraisal. Clinical supervision was most effective for physiotherapists who had selected their own supervisor, who were clear about its purpose and who were able to make the link between clinical supervision, continuing professional development and reflective practice.

The study concludes that the purpose of clinical supervision in relation to other support needs to be clarified to help physiotherapists use the process more effectively and that clinical supervisors should receive support and training in this important role. Clinical supervision is used for different purposes at different stages of a career and can enhance the development of confident practitioners. The term ‘clinical supervision’ is inappropriate for physiotherapists due to its lack of clarity. ‘Peer Support and Development’ is an example of an alternative title that may better describe the purpose of the activity.