Role and essential competencies of the frontline supervisors of direct support professionals in community services.
Although frontline supervisors are responsible for on-site management, supervision, and training of direct support professionals, research on the nature, content, and skills of the frontline supervisor role is rare. In this paper we describe results of 12 job analysis and three validation focus groups constituted to describe core competencies for supervisors in organizations providing community supports for people with disabilities. The focus groups involved 146 participants, including 97 direct support professionals, 40 frontline supervisors, and 7 managers who supervise frontline supervisors. The focus groups identified 14 competency areas in which frontline supervisors need to be proficient. In each competency area, between 4 and 26 specific competency statements were identified (a total of 142) along with 340 performance indicators.
University of Minnesota, Research and Training Center on Community Living, 204 Pattee Hall, 150 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. hewit005@umn.edu
Amy S
AS
Hewitt
Sheryl A
SA
Larson
K Charlie
KC
Lakin
John
J
Sauer
Susan
S
O'Nell
Lori
L
Sedlezky
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D010559:Personnel Management; D011361:Professional Competence; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce