Database of New Zealand mental health research

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Principal contact
Name	Ms Robin sutcliffe
Email	Email address is not available; please contact keadmin@tepou.co.nz for more information.
The research
Summary	Four people who work as Mental Health Support Workers (MHSW) were interviewed about their experiences of receiving supervision. Results showed that a supervisory relationship based on reciprocity, trust and mutual respect was highly valued and enhanced supervisee's ability to support tangata whaiora. Factors that contribute to a supervisory relationship being experienced in this way, were identified.
Objectives	The researcher who has been providing supervision for MHSW for 10 years was interested in finding out how people working as MHSW experience supervision. She was interested to know what factors influence support workers willingness to engage in supervision or not. She was also interested to know how the paradigm of recovery might shape supervisory needs.
Study design	Four people who work as MHSW responded to invitations sent to 15 service providers. There were 3 female and one male; 2 identified as Maori; One identified as a service user. Unstructured interviews were conducted with each participant. Preliminary analyses were sent to participants who then participated in focus groups. The transcribed interviews and focus group discussions were analysed using a critical hermeneutic methodology which looked for implicit and explicit themes, in particular those relating to dynamics of power.
Methods	Qualitative
Results	The study found that the quality of the supervisory relationship was central to the supervisee's engagement in supervision. A supervisory relationship that is experienced as a collaborative partnership and that implicitly and explictly addresses the empowerment of the supervisee was identified as the most conducive for MHSW to engage. Once engaged in the supervisory relationship the supervisee is more able to benefit from other factors such as skill development through modelling etc.
Conclusions	Supervision can be thought of as an agent of empowerment for MHSW, both individually and as a devloping professional group. Empowered MHSW will be more effective at assisting the empowerment and hence 'recovery' of tangata whaiora.
Key Descriptors	Management, Workforce Development, Recovery, Service Development, Stress
Disciplines	Support Work
Settings	Residential, Community, NGO (Non Government Organisation), DHB (District Health Board)
Diagnostic Categories	General
Populations	General Population
Other Keywords
Ethics approval	Yes
Academic led	Yes
Service led	No
How were service users involved	Participants of the research
Publication in peer review journal	No
Supporting information
Uploaded files	What is the meaning of supervision for Mental Health Support Workers?
Links

Page last updated: 7 November 2008