Clinical supervision

Clinical supervision is an internationally recognised strategy to support the health workforce to cope with the demands of their jobs. It provides a framework for skills development and reflection, promotes staff wellbeing and resilience.

It develops reflective practice and the professional skills of the supervisee.

Clinical supervision is not performance management or line management. It allows for deeper discussion and an opportunity to review clinical practice.

Models and modes

In the ACT, clinical supervision is facilitated through a range of modes including:

• delivered face to face in an individual or group setting
• virtually with the help of technology.

Find out more about clinical supervision framework in the ACT.

How to become a clinical supervisor

If you are a nurse, midwife or allied health professional working in the ACT public health system, you can ask for more information and submit an expression of interest by emailing NM.SaferCulture@act.gov.au

This includes hospital and community-based services:

• Canberra Health Services
• ACT Health Directorate
• Tresillian QEII.

How to receive clinical supervision

If you are an ACT Health employee you can find a clinical supervisor through the ACT Health Clinical Supervision SharePoint site.

If you work outside of the ACT public health services and would like to be paired with a clinical supervisor email NM.SaferCulture@act.gov.au

You'll be sent a list of trained nursing, midwifery and allied health clinical supervisors to choose from.

Support for clinical supervisors

Local member groups

The Australian College of Clinical Supervision supports local member groups across Australia.

Meetings are held online or in person and include guest speakers, networking and information sharing.

College members, their guests and non-members are welcome to attend any advertised local member event. Find upcoming events at the Australian College of Clinical Supervision website.

ACT staff can organise a meeting either with the college directly or by emailing NM.SaferCulture@act.gov.au

Clinical support team

The Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer has a clinical support team who:

• support supervisors to maintain their own standard of practice
• link other clinical supervisors across the ACT public health system
• provide advice and support to healthcare organisations.

More information

• Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
• Australian Clinical Supervision Association (ACSA)
• Clinical Supervision Consultancy- Clinical Supervision Training in the Role Development Model
• The Superguide- a handbook for supervising allied health professionals
• Clinical Supervision Poster
• Clinical Supervision Pilot Project Evaluation

To get access to Canberra Health Services clinical supervision policy and procedures email CHS.NMPSS@act.gov.au.