Understanding interprofessional supervision among allied health professionals in the context of the Irish disability sector

Clinical supervision is typically conceptualised as a discipline-specific activity. However, recent years have seen increased use of interprofessional supervision (IPS), which occurs when clinical supervision is conducted between members of different professions. Thus far, there has been limited research exploring this form of supervision in isolation from other supervision types. However, there has been increased discourse around the use of IPS within the Irish disability context due to recent shifts in resources, demand, and service structures. Prior to this thesis, there had been no empirical exploration of the use of IPS in Irish disability settings to this author’s knowledge, and limited exploration of its use in disability contexts more broadly. Recognising this gap, this thesis aimed to develop an empirically-based understanding of IPS among allied health professionals within the Irish disability context. A mixed methods approach consisting of three individual studies was used. As no previous attempts had been made to synthesise the existing literature, this research began with a scoping review of existing IPS research. A rigorous search of four electronic databases identified 27 studies as suitable for inclusion. Findings developed through thematic synthesis illuminated common themes across the literature. The remaining studies in this thesis aimed to gather context specific insights by collecting data from allied health professionals in the Irish disability context. Perspectives on IPS among those who had and had not taken part in IPS (n = 38) were collected through a mixed methods survey. Experiences and views of IPS among those impacted and not impacted by recent systems change (n = 8) were explored through semi-structured interviews and compared using multiperspectival interpretative phenomenological analysis. The findings of the three studies were compared and contrasted, and four key integrated findings were developed: (i) IPS as a mechanism for supporting interprofessional working in disability settings; (ii) balancing interprofessional and discipline-specific identities; (iii) the gap between ideal IPS and the reality of IPS in the Irish disability context; and (iv) shifting supervision needs and competencies throughout the career span. Overall, the findings indicate that when used effectively IPS may be a valuable support for interprofessional collaboration and may provide opportunities for professionals to gain interprofessional knowledge and skills. However, the efficacy of IPS may be influenced by several factors, including the accessibility of discipline-specific supervision, the experience levels of those involved, and clarity regarding the purpose and scope of IPS. The findings of this thesis offer unique and valuable insights into the use of IPS in the Irish disability context and beyond, which have the potential to inform future research, training, and policy.