The effectiveness of analytically informed team supervision in reducing sickness absence rates

Abstract

Introduction/Aims Psychoanalytic literature documents how staff are impacted by the toxic emotional states and behaviours that are generated through treating patients with severe long-term psychological problems and working in a high secure forensic setting. This study evaluates the outcome of providing analytically informed reflective supervision to a department team in such a setting. Methods Participants; A team consisting of art therapists, music therapists, assistants and departmental manager. The Intervention; Analytically Informed Reflective Practice. Duration: 90 minutes, delivered in a group format by a facilitator external to the department. Focus: emotional impact of work, team relationships, systemic issues and institutional culture. Frequency: monthly for a minimum of one year. Quantitative measures; Pre-post comparison of the pattern of sickness absence for12 months prior and during team supervision. Management records were used to determine the quantity of sickness absence days. Qualitative measures; Semi structured interview of the participants about the experience of supervision, conducted by an independent interviewer. Results Sickness absence rates were on the increase prior to team supervision. Rates of sickness continued to increase for the initial few months before beginning to reduce. By month nine the sickness absence pattern had changed and most months were free of sickness absence. At interview the participants reported the experience of supervision being beneficial in terms of: - sharing a common experience - gaining an understanding of others - learning about assumptions made about others. Conclusions/Comments Team supervision delivered in this way was associated with improved staff sickness absence patterns. The time-scale for improvement was consistent with the mode of action of group psychotherapy. The improvement can be detected by the ninth month through staff management records. Staff found team supervision beneficial and improved their understanding of team relationships. The treatment was cost-effective in terms of cost saved through reducing staff sickness. Other benefits include improved efficiency in terms of the team maintaining an increased caseload.