Handleiðslumál fagfólks á Íslandi

Abstract

Supervision is a concept linked to therapeutic work, leadership and administration in human service organizations. In the article the results of a study on supervision are presented and the development and role of supervision is discussed. Questionnaires were sent to 795 professionals of six categories. The project was implemented with financial support from the European Leonardo Program (Icelandic Leonardo Center) The author who is an associate professor at the Dep. of Social Work at the University of Iceland conducted the study in cooperation with representatives from six professional associations, i.e. the associations of psychiatric nurses, social workers, educational counselors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists. Two categories which initially planned to participate dropped out. The object of the study was to get an overview of the supervisory level and a comparison of the experience and attitudes of the various categories in this regard, in order to be able to analyze available resources and estimate the need for education and training in supervision. The response rate was rather poor, 56%. Occupational therapists educational counselors responded best. The response rate does not allow much statistical analysis or differentiation between categories or variables. Therefore the results are presented and discussed in terms of general patterns The usefulness of the study consists in its rather clear indications and information about the professionals's need for supervision and how they wish it to be planned. It gives important information to administrators and professioinal leaders in human service organizations about how to support the professionals so that they feel better in their work and thus might be expected to become more efficient and more committed to the field and institution they are serving.