Aged Care & Rehabilitation Clinical Services Plan 2007 – 2012

Aged Care & Rehabilitation Clinical Service Plan 2007 - 2012APPENDIX 6BRIEFING PAPER: AGED CARE WORKFORCE ISSUES 9 (CLINICAL REDESIGN)IntroductionSydney South West Area Health Service Older People and Aged Care Health ServicesClinical Redesign Project (DRAFT 3)The Diagnostic Phase of the Project identified workforce issues as an overarching concernthroughout the delivery of health services to older people in Sydney South West. Due to the widerangingnature of workforce issues, it was not considered appropriate for these issues to be takenforward in the current Solution Design Working Groups. The Management Committee determinedthat the issues be included in the Solution Design report; and that they be forwarded to theSSWAHS Director of Workforce Planning and Area Human Resources Manager to inform the AreaWorkforce Strategic Plan and recruitment process review/policy decisions.This paper summarises the Workforce issues found during the Diagnostic Phase and makesrecommendations to progress resolution across SSWAHS.Workforce IssuesThe major issues identified were:I. Demand for aged care health services exceeds limited supply, especially for medical, nursing,Allied Health and support staff (ie. respite and community based aged care staff) limitingcapacity to provide service to inpatients and community clients. This includes new communityreferrals and follow up of people in the community when they return home.II. Recruitment and retention of appropriately skilled staff in aged care is difficult, time consumingand a significant barrier to careIII. Inconsistent workforce data to measure demand vs. supplyIV. Non aged care staff generally do not have Aged Care specific knowledge, skills and or insightsto provide holistic clinical treatment to older people admitted to non aged services. (Note: Thisissue is one of the issues being addressed by the Care Coordination and Delivery WorkingGroup (ie. Solution 4: Improved access to Aged Care expertise and reference material).Potential solution areas identified by staff in consultations1. Recruitment processes (shorter term):– Timely approvals– Equity in recruitment across professions (e.g. community based positions, Allied Healthetc)– Permission to recruit externally funded positions without delay– Flexibility in advertising (exceptions for vulnerable positions, explore private sectormethods)2. Aged Care as an appealing career option (longer term):– Attract and retain skilled and experienced candidates– Retain junior clinicians3. More resources from general operating funds to meet expanding demand for Aged CareServices4. Standardised approach to Aged Care across SSW:– Consistency in structures, roles and working conditions– Networking between servicesPage 103