Supervision as prevention of “burnout” and the support basis for doctors and social workers

Online supervision is an effective way of professional development and support of specialists who work ‘in the frontline’ fight against epidemics, including COVID-19. This resource, designed with the support of the Global Fund, has become popular both among social workers and doctors, especially during quarantine. The delighted reviews of specialists about participating in online supervision and their new requests make us not to stand still, but to develop further!
Marina Varban Project Manager, Alliance for Public Health

Task

The coronavirus epidemic set completely new targets and challenges for professional working in the healthcare, harm reduction, social and psychological assistance to representatives of risk groups and HIV-positive people. It became necessary to reformatting activities ‘in the fields’, quick training of specialists  in the new changed conditions, as well as their constant support in the implementation of new directions.

Solution

Based on the requests of social workers and doctors, during the quarantine, new topics of consultations were added, which are carried out online by https://supervision.org.ua/ supervisors by psychologists, infectious disease doctors, and managers. Such new topics of online consultations appeared: changing the format for providing services to clients of projects in the regions, new communication channels with clients, project work in connection with changes in the activities of health facilities, distant support of clients and possible forms of monitoring compliance with ART, OST, etc. Supervisors provide their supervisors with up-to-date information about COVID-19, using modern sources of reliable information, helping to adapt the activities and forms of work with clients in the region, taking into consideration the quarantine changes and the specifics of the work of health facilities, and also give recommendations on the prevention of professional burnout.

Result

307 online supervisions were held for social and medical workers from 13 regions of Ukraine and the Crimea during the quarantine period. Most supervisants participated in more than one supervision and left positive feedback about the supervisor.