The Work of Front Line Community Aged Care Staff and the Impact of a Changing Policy Landscape and Consumer-Directed Care

M. Prgomet; H.E. Douglas; A. Tariq; A. Georgiou; P. Armour; J.I. Westbrook

doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcw112

Back

The Work of Front Line Community Aged Care Staff and the Impact of a Changing Policy Landscape and Consumer-Directed Care

Journal article

Peer reviewed

The Work of Front Line Community Aged Care Staff and the Impact of a Changing Policy Landscape and Consumer-Directed Care

M. Prgomet, H.E. Douglas, A. Tariq, A. Georgiou, P. Armour and J.I. Westbrook

British Journal of Social Work, Vol.47(1), pp.106-124

2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcw112

Files and links (1)

url

Free to Read *No subscription requiredView

Abstract

Community aged care in Australia is facing both challenges and opportunities with the introduction of consumer-directed care and its goal to provide clients with greater choice and control over their care services. Such policy changes impact not only aged care organisations, but front line staff who manage and deliver care. This study investigated the work of front line staff and their perceptions of the impact of a changing policy landscape. Focus groups were conducted with thirteen care workers and six case managers from one Australian aged care organisation. The data revealed valuable information about the: daily activities of front line staff; information exchange mechanisms facilitating front line work; management of clients and client relationships; and implications of policy and organisational changes on front line work and clients. Front line staff highlighted the importance of care coordination, communication and continuity of care delivery, all of which impact on client relationships and quality of care. For aged care organisations and policy makers, the findings identify important areas for consideration when making decisions about changes to community care, including the key role of front line staff in fostering client relationships, providing consistency and continuity, balancing the needs and expectations of clients, and providing support and advocacy of care options.

Details

Title: The Work of Front Line Community Aged Care Staff and the Impact of a Changing Policy Landscape and Consumer-Directed Care
Authors/Creators: M. Prgomet (Author/Creator) - Macquarie University
H.E. Douglas (Author/Creator) - 2School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Singapore Campus, Murdoch University, Singapore
A. Tariq (Author/Creator) - Queensland University of Technology
A. Georgiou (Author/Creator) - Macquarie University
P. Armour (Author/Creator) - 4UnitingCare Ageing, NSW, Australia
J.I. Westbrook (Author/Creator) - Macquarie University
Publication Details: British Journal of Social Work, Vol.47(1), pp.106-124
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Identifiers: 991005541406807891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Psychology and Exercise Science
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites

Metrics

35 Record Views

13 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.112 Palliative Care; 1.112.161 Dementia Caregivers
Web Of Science research areas: Social Work
ESI research areas: Social Sciences, general