Often management takes an interest in supervision in order to evaluate the impact of clinical supervision and its service benefits. Many agencies confuse clinical supervision with case management. While some may argue this point theoretically, generally speaking case management is a tool for ensuring the agency's policy and procedures for managing a client file are followed. Clinical supervision brings practitioners and skilled supervisors together to reflect on practice. The focus is on the supervisee's work.
Clinical supervision serves a number of purposes.
When clinical supervision is effective, practitioners feel supported, valued, and able to continue their work. The effective use of clinical supervision for all practitioners should contribute to the development of practice throughout the organization. Clinical supervision is a vehicle that enables practitioners to develop skills and attitudes that enhance their care delivery, thus meeting their work and professional objectives. Systems of management appraisal and clinical supervision should run parallel to one another. Appraisal is a management tool, and the manager has a key role in the relationship.