Levels of Stress and Perceived Need for Supervision in Senior Occupational Therapy Staff

Abstract

A survey was carried out to examine the links between self-reported levels of stress in occupational therapists, the perceived needs for professional supervision and future job intentions. A request was posted to a representative sample of 60 occupational therapy managers, who were each asked to give out anonymous questionnaires to five senior occupational therapy staff. The questionnaire asked for information on grade, length of time since qualifying, specialty area, perceived level of stress, extent of satisfaction with five aspects of supervision (opportunities to reflect on practice, to offload feelings, for professional support, for learning and for encouragement of professional development) and job intentions in 5 years' time.

A return rate of 70% (211 out of 300) was achieved. Around a third of staff reported ‘high’ or ‘very high’ levels of stress and 19% said that they intended to have a job outside occupational therapy within 5 years. Around 40% wished for more of each of the aspects of supervision and only 25% were satisfied with all aspects of supervision. There was evidence that those who felt most stressed were more likely to want more supervision and that those intending to leave the profession felt particularly lacking in opportunities to offload feelings.

It was estimated from the data that, across the United Kingdom, 2300 senior occupational therapists intended to leave the profession, which would take 3 years' Intake of new graduates to make good. It is suggested that more adequate levels of supervision, which could well be informal, would help to address the problem of the potential loss of many senior and experienced staff.