Concept and objectives of supervision

Concept of Supervision

• Supervision is a systematic, ongoing process for increasing the efficiency of health personnel by developing their knowledge, perfecting their skills, improving their attitudes towards their work and increasing their motivation.
• It is one of the most important management functions in an organisation.
• Supervision is also defined as an act of a superior person overseeing the work of the personnel working under him or her. This overseeing means directing, investigating, guiding, helping and advising the subordinates in their performance with the purpose of achieving the established objectives.
• Therefore, it is an extension of training which provides constant observation, monitoring, evaluation and guidance to workers, with the aim of enabling them to perform their activities effectively and efficiently while maintaining the required standards.

Basic Tenets of a Good Supportive Supervisory Process

• Supervision is carried out in direct contact with health personnel.
• It is a two-way communication between supervisors and those being supervised.
• Supervisors are always accountable for the performance of the subordinates under their span of control.
• It should not be a fault-finding exercise but a collaborative effort to identify problems and find solutions. Supervisors are to help the workers improve, develop and reinforce knowledge and skills according to their individual learning needs.
• Supportive supervision is provided to health personnel at all levels since they need ongoing support for solving problems and to overcome difficulties.
• Health personnel also need constructive feedback on their performance and continuous encouragement in their work.
• Supportive supervision assists workers to perform in the best possible way to yield the best results in terms of realisation of the organisational goals.

Supportive supervision ensures smooth implementation and continuous programme improvement.

Objectives of Supervision

• To ensure equitable provision of high-quality healthcare services to all sections of society.
• To build capacity of the health staff to implement programme procedures correctly.
• To increase the involvement and commitment of staff at different levels, and to help staff develop their highest potential.
• To plan services cooperatively and to develop coordination to avoid overlapping.
• To develop standards of service and methods of evaluation of personnel and services.
• To assist in problem-solving of the matters concerning personnel, administrative and operational services.
• To provide timely and actionable feedback.
• To assess human resources and their training needs.
• To ensure logistic management as per guidelines.
• To ensure accurate and valid data recording and reporting in Nikshay and other recording systems.
• To interpret policies, objectives and needs of the organisation and to suggest ways and means to improve them.

Resources

• NTEP Training Modules (5-9) for Programme Managers & Medical Officers, 2020.
• Supervision and Monitoring Strategy, RNTCP, 2012.

Assessment