Implementing a Supervision Model in Community Children's Mental Health: Experiences of Supervisors and Practitioners

Impact Statement Findings from this reflective thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with supervisors and practitioners following the implementation of the SNAP model of clinical supervision provide insight for supervision in publicly funded settings. Supervision of staff in the helping professions is valued and considered important for effective service delivery, with expert consensus that the delivery of high-quality supervision strengthens the social service workforce. The demands of publicly funded settings provide compelling rationale for supervision to protect marginalized clients, while ensuring staff are supported in delivering quality services. As conceptual frameworks, models of supervision are one way to strengthen supervision through intentionally incorporating theory, best practices, and research. Theoretically grounded and integrative, the Stop Now and Plan (SNAP) clinical supervision model incorporates best practices, guidelines, and techniques informed by explanatory and practice theories, and research. This article presents a qualitative study exploring the experiences of supervisors and supervisees in children's mental health settings implementing this model of supervision for an evidence-based intervention. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted using qualitative data collected from participant interviews (N = 20) directly following the completion of a 6-month implementation of the SNAP model of clinical supervision. Identified themes demonstrate the value of a structured model of supervision in supporting practitioner confidence, accountability, and professional development, while allowing supervisors to meet their responsibilities to their team and their organizations. The challenges associated with implementing a supervision model within publicly funded settings are highlighted, with suggestions for over coming these challenges provided.