A New Approach to Supervision

1
A New Approach to Supervision

• MODULE 3
• Facilitative Supervision for Quality Improvement
  Curriculum
• 2008

2
Facilitative Supervision (FS)

• FS is a system of management whereby supervisors
  at all levels in an institution focus on the
  needs of the staff they oversee.
• The most important role of the facilitative
  supervisor is to help staff improve their
  performance to enable them to
• Manage the quality improvement (QI) and
  performance improvement (PI) process
• Meet the needs of clients
• Implement institutional goals

3
Facilitative Supervision (2)

• Focuses on helping staff to identify and solve
  problems through the use of QI, PI, and other
  tools.
• Focuses on process and systems rather than on
  individuals.
• Assists staff in meeting goals they set.
• Is continuous, building on past gains while
  setting higher QI goals.

4
Characteristics of Facilitative Supervisors

• Consider staff as internal customers.
• Promote joint problem solving and teamwork.
• Ensure that decision making is participatory.
• Empower providers to monitor and improve their
  own performance.
• Encourage two-way communication.
• Accumulate and use technical knowledge.
• Promote mentoring, coaching, and provision of
  constructive feedback.
• Delegate problem solving related to day-to-day
  problems.

5
Facilitative Supervisors Lead the Performance
Improvement Process by

• Addressing staff needs
• Facilitative supervision and management
• Information, training, and development
• Supplies, equipment and infrastructure
• Enabling staff to continuously improve their
  performance and the quality of services and to
  meet clients needs
• Serving as a liaison between site staff and
  institution/headquarters/other organizations and
  sectors.

6
How Do Supervisors Benefit from the Facilitative
Approach?

• You will be more welcome by staff because you
  will help staff to solve their problems, rather
  than criticize them for their faults.
• You will have the satisfaction of working as a
  team member, watching staff learn and grow, and
  watching quality improve.
• Your job will become more fulfilling as your
  staffs motivation and commitment increase.

7
How Do Supervisors Benefit from the Facilitative
Approach? (2)

• When you involve staff in the QI/PI process, you
  need to solve fewer routine, simple problems
  yourself.
• As other supervisors under your authority learn
  to supervise in a facilitative manner, you will
  need to provide them with less technical
  assistance.
• You will gain a reputation as a leader, as an
  effective supervisor, and as an enabler.