Clarity of purpose and administrative accountability: an empirical study in long-term residential care.
Experienced social workers in an Australian residential aged care facility mounted a practice research project over three years. Aims included meeting agency accountability requirements and illustrating social work roles. In consultation with a university school of social work lecturer, the staff members devised a tool to document their practice on a per case basis across the care continuum as well as non case-related work associated with resident needs and agency purpose. A three-month pilot indicated that casework comprised 70% of work time, the 405 cases incorporating higher than expected time on preadmission, gatekeeping and admission tasks. Analyses of the most time-consuming cases revealed complex interacting factors inadequately captured by available and physically-driven case classification and costing tools.
Conway
J
J
University of Melbourne, School of Social Work, Parkville, Australia.
James
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019090:Case Management / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000191:economics*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics*; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000191:economics; D012947:Social Work / Q000191:economics*