a handbook for supervising allied health professionals - HETI - NSW ...

As an outcome of the Director-General’s Governance Review on the future directions for
NSW Health completed in October 2011, CETI has been restructured to become the
Health Education and Training Institute (HETI).
HETI has an enhanced focus including clinical and non-clinical education and training.
Responsibilities include management development and leadership programs for
the system in addition to CETI’s existing focus on postgraduate services including
undergraduate and vocational training. HETI will establish itself as a national leader in
people development within the health sector in NSW.
Allied health professionals are recognised as essential members of the multidisciplinary
team playing a critical role in prevention, treatment and management of complex comorbidities
across the continuum of care, reducing the impact of chronic disease and
increasing patients’ quality of life.
Effective supervision is a critical ingredient to ensuring patient safety and promoting
professional development of clinicians. Supervision sessions provide a platform for
critical reflection, development of critical reasoning and identification of further learning
opportunities. Supervision has benefits to health care organisations by enhancing job
satisfaction of both supervisees and supervisors which increases staff retention.
HETI is delighted to present the second edition of The Superguide: a handbook for
supervising allied health professionals. This document will continue to enrich the quality
of supervision being provided by allied health supervisors in NSW.
Heather Gray, HETI Chief Executive
This handbook is a welcome resource to the many dedicated allied health professionals
working in the NSW Health system. It is recognised that while the 23 allied health
professions are unique, the importance of supervision is common to us all. Supervisors
are a vital front line resource and have a critical role in developing confident and
competent allied health clinicians, promoting excellence in clinical practice, and ensuring
patient safety and quality of care. As health professionals we have a responsibility to
not only monitor our own practice but also to share our experience with others. Being
a supervisor is one of the ways allied health professionals can meet this responsibility.
Supervision provided in a positive and supportive environment enables clinicians to
excel in clinical practice. Experienced clinicians also have a role in providing constructive
feedback and supporting supervisors. As role models, supervisors should “practice what
they preach” by also receiving supervision. This assists clinicians to embed a culture of
lifelong learning and reflective practice from the very beginning of their careers. While
this guide cannot possibly cover everything there is to know about clinical supervision,
we hope it will “reinvigorate the conversation” about supervision among allied health
professionals. We encourage clinicians to utilise this guide by applying it to their individual
professional context to improve the quality of clinical supervision.
Brenda McLeod, Chief Allied Health Officer, NSW Ministry of Health
SECOND EDITION
Forewords
HETI
THE SUPERGUIDE
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