Exploration of supervision elements supporting forensic practitioners
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What elements of supervision do Mental Health Professionals in Community Forensic settings consider support their wellbeing?
IRAS ID
276508
Contact name
Nicola E Moran
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of York
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 12 days
Research summary
Initial scoping searches suggest that there are currently no studies into how supervision supports professional’s wellbeing in a forensic community team, either for Social Workers or Community Psychiatric Nurses. Limited research into the impact of forensic inpatient nursing do exist, for example Berry and Robertson’s (2019) research suggests that both a supportive therapeutic ward environment and clinical supervision are necessary to reduce staff burn out. However, implications for Community Forensic Nursing were not explored. Cramer, et al. (2019). also looked at professional wellbeing within Forensic Mental Health inpatient settings and found wellbeing levels to be higher than hypothesised and that supervision to a be protective strategy, but again did not explore out-patient settings and was heavily biased towards nursing experiences. Further to this Brown’s (2017) systematic review of the impact of stress and burn out within forensic settings found Social Worker perspective to be absent within the data. Further research into if similar themes exist within in community forensic teams, across both Social Worker and Community Psychiatric Nurses, is much needed.
After completing the research, it is hoped that I will be able to produce a good practice guide based on the data collected, and this will be shared with both participants and supervisors. Hopefully the sharing of best practice information will equip supervisors to deliver more effective supervision to staff members and as a result staff will feel both listened to and better supported. Further to this, Morse et al. (2012). concluded that staff who feel supported are more likely to remain within a position for a longer period and have less time off for work related stress, which results in patient's receiving more consistent care.The purpose and design of the study has been discussed with Dr Rebekah Bourne (Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist & Clinical Lead - FIRST) and Dr Nicola Moran (Academic Tutor at the University of York)
REC name
N/A
REC reference
N/A