Hands-on hands-off : a model of effective supervision

Background: Professor Rick Iedema and his colleagues explored the issue of autonomy versus direct supervision by examining junior doctors' perspectives on supervisory relationships and interactions at a rural healthcare facility (Iedema et al. 2010). Based on the data, the authors proposed that supervision should navigate between 'hands-on' or 'active' forms wherein supervisors can provide direct support to facilitate a trainees' skill development, and 'hands-off' or 'passive' supervision which encompasses fl exible supervisory support when a trainee is acting independently. Associate Professor Wendy Hu and colleagues from medicine, nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy at the University of Western Sydney are conducting a video study of supervisors engaging in actual formative assessments of the clinical competence of students in hospital, outpatient and private practice settings. Results from this study will be used to examine and illustrate the hands-onhands- off supervision model. Aims: Share fi ndings from research studies exploring the hand-on hands-off supervision model; Review video and photo case studies of supervision; Explore the implications of research outcomes for effective supervision. Methodology: The session will provide a framework for effective supervision and examine its practical implications.