BARRIERS TO THE CLINICAL SUPERVISION OF DIRECT CARE STAFF IN A HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATION: A CASE STUDY MAY, 1992 PHILIP RICH, B.F.A., C.W. POST COLLEGE M.S.W., STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK Ed.D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS Directed by Professor Jeffrey W. Eiseman The study utilizes the case study approach in examining clinical supervision in a large, multi-service human service organization. It specifically examines factors impeding clinical supervision, asserting that clinical supervision is typically not practiced as a result of multiple causes. A model of clinical supervision is synthesized from existing literature and is used as the basis for the study, which was operationalized through questionnaires and interviews conducted throughout the organization, a review of organizational materials, and the observation of supervision. In addition, organizational efficiency was conceptualized as the product of the interaction between defined task, organizational employees, formal organizational arrangements, and the informal culture of the organization. The thesis presents seven propositions to support the view that clinical supervision is impeded as a result of multiple causes: (1) supervisors are not well versed in the clinical basis of direct care work, (2) supervisors are untrained in the practice of clinical supervision, (3) most supervisory tasks are considered to be administrative rather than clinical, (4) organizational structures do not adequately encourage or support the use of clinical supervision, (5) training in clinical supervision is unavailable, (6) clinical supervision is more likely to be provided in programs that have a clear ’'clinical" identity, than in programs that

Beyer V. Parker

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Front-line leadership