The supervision experience: how clinicians view the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential's ongoing professional development

The ANZAED Eating Disorder Treatment Principles and General Clinical Practice and Training Standards and the recently launched ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential both endorse the importance of eating disorder (ED) treatment providers undertaking clinical supervision as part of their ongoing professional development. However, there is currently no nationwide framework of ED-specific supervisory standards. This mixed-methods study aimed to explore experiences of Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinicians receiving and providing ED-specific supervision. N = 220 clinicians (92% women; Mage[SD] = 38.37[10.14], with M[SD] = 11.24[8.14] years of experience) across Australia, com- prising 41% psychologists, 40% dietitians, 9% social workers and 10% other professionals, completed an online survey in February and March 2023, with n = 22 participating in one-on-one interviews. Most participants (61%) received supervision only, 4% provided supervision only, and 35% undertook both. The majority (88% of supervisees and 85% of supervisors) reported their experience of supervision as “good” or “excellent.” Supervisees most strongly endorsed that supervision provided a safe and welcoming space to reflect on their practice, and 67% agreed that the ongoing supervisory requirements for maintaining the Credential were reasonable. Of concern were the most commonly reported barriers towards receiving supervision: lack of time (65%) and cost (60%). Overall, 71% of supervisors felt well-equipped to provide ED-specific supervision, whereas 81% and 80% reported see- ing improvements in confidence and competence of their supervisees, respectively. These preliminary findings show that supervision was perceived as beneficial for improving clinician confidence and competence to deliver treatment, and indicate potential avenues for improving supervisees’ experience.