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ABSTRACT
This paper offers a review of a new model of supervision; the integrated restorative model, to underpin effective safeguarding supervision in health settings. This seeks to capitalize on the benefits of using both restorative supervision (Wallbank, 20101 and an integrated model commonly referred to as the 4x4x4 model iMorrison 2005, Wonnacott, 2012). It challenges the notion that restorative supervision is a stand- alone supervisory process sitting outside of safeguarding supervision and demonstrates how effective safeguarding supervision needs to combine critical reflective practice and critical thinking with a restorative experience in order for the professional to feel supported and maintain their capacity to think. The paper urges health settings to ensure that individuals undertaking safeguarding supervision are appropriately trained to identify how those sessions can support professionals to retain their reflective capacity and decision-making skills.
KEYWORDS
Safeguarding, supervision, burnout, stress, governance
BACKGROUND
Clinical supervision is a term used to describe a formal process of professional support and learning which enables individual practitioners to develop knowledge and competence, assume responsibility for their own practice and enhance patient/client protection and safety of care in complex clinical situations (CQC, 2013).
Literature reviews relating to'clinical supervision'show that its use as a ubiquitous term may well be problematic as it is often an umbrella statement with little clarity around function and purpose (Berggren et al., 2013). The evidence of the effectiveness within health settings of clinical supervision has been scant and often limited to specialist groups such as mental health nursing. There is little literature dedicated to the use of appropriate and specific strategies to be used within the clinical supervision session (Howard, 2008) leaving managers with a need to improvise as to best practice. Given that managers often have the shared responsibility of the supervisory role, it has not surprising that the purpose and effect of clinical supervision has not been clear.
This lack of clarity is reflected in the child protection context with child protection or safeguarding supervision (CQC, 2013) either being seen as one form of clinical supervision or something entirely separate. This is a false dichotomy with evidence suggesting that general clinical supervision is an important aspect of protecting children along with an opportunity to focus on specific cases. (Lister & Crisp, 2005).
There is...