‘Difficult Bedfellows’: Relate Supervisors' Experiences of Synthesising the Functions in Their Roles

ABSTRACT Background The lived experience of clinical supervisors is under researched. To help fill this gap, the researcher completed a doctoral study into the lived experience of Relate supervisors. Relate was, at the time of the research, a UK charity which provides counselling. The article draws on this doctoral research and presents findings around one of the research questions: supervisors' lived experience of role tension. Method The research was completed from an insider researcher perspective as the researcher was a Relate supervisor when she undertook it. A mixed method qualitative/quantitative approach was taken and the research was underpinned by a phenomenological methodology. Firstly, a qualitative/quantitative survey was completed by Relate supervisors and analysed through reflexive thematic analysis. Secondly, semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with ten RIelate supervisors and analysed via interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings Findings from the survey reveal a discrepancy in the expectations of supervisors, supervisees and managers around the supervisor role, which causes supervisors tension. Whilst delivering support comes naturally to supervisors and they believe that supervisees require support, they are uncomfortable delivering the enforcement function. Equally, they recognise that the priority for managers is the management of risk and the enforcement of policy and procedures. Interview findings similarly demonstrate this role tension. Themes include the discomfort of being the ‘policeman’, and tension caused by synthesising functions and being pulled into line management. Implications By bringing an empirical, phenomenological perspective to the supervisor role, this research expands our understanding. It has the potential to raise awareness and build knowledge, resulting in changes to the way supervision is delivered through supervisor and supervisee training.