title: 'We're in the sandwich': Aged care staff members' negotiation of constraints and the role of the organisation in enacting and supporting an ethic of care.
abstract: Aged care staff are often seen as holding power in care relationships, particularly in client engagement. Such a perception, however, may limit our understanding and analysis of the dynamics and politics within care spaces. This paper uses interview and focus group data from both staff and clients of an Australian aged care provider to identify the positions given to, and taken up by, staff in client engagement. Focusing on one of these positions, in which staff are seen as managing and negotiating constraints, the paper uses an ethic of care lens to examine the context in which engagement - and this position taking - occurs. Findings reflect the importance of the organisational and systemic context to the practice of care ethics and the potential vulnerability and disempowerment of care giving staff. Implications for the support of staff in client engagement and the role of care organisations beyond structures and processes to an active participant in an ethic of care are discussed.
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, The University of Queensland/ Blue Care Research and Practice Development Centre, 56 Sylvan Rd, Toowong Qld 4066, Australia. Electronic address: a.petriwskyj@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petriwskyj
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, The University of Queensland/ Blue Care Research and Practice Development Centre, 56 Sylvan Rd, Toowong Qld 4066, Australia. Electronic address: alexandra.gibson@uqconnect.edu.au.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Blue Care, 56 Sylvan Rd, Toowong Qld 4066, Australia. Electronic address: g.webby@bluecare.org.au.
authors.forename: Glenys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Webby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017008:Negotiating / Q000523:psychology; D011209:Power, Psychological; D024382:Professional Role / Q000523:psychology*; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Care services; Client; Engagement; Ethic of care; Older adults