Hey Boss, are you sure they are the managers you are looking for? Managerial Competency Requirements for Level II & III Managers in Community Health Services

DOI: 10.5176/2251-3833_GHC12.31

Authors: Zhanming Liang, Peter Howard and Lee Koh

Abstract: The community health service (CHS) sector inAustralia has been undergoing extensive change to keep pacewith the rapidly increasing needs for and scope ofcommunity-based services. Competent managers are criticalto the successful implementation and sustainability of thesechanges and the continuity of quality service provision. Thepurpose of this study was to develop an understanding of thecompetency requirements of Levels II and III CHS managersin Victoria, Australia. Position description analysis wasperformed to identify educational, professional, experientialand competency requirements that employers expect ofLevels II and III managers in CHS. The competencyrequirements for CHS managers generated from positiondescription analysis were compared with those identified bythe literature and with recent research findings by thecurrent research team’s Managerial Competency AssessmentProject (MCAP) to identify any discrepancies. The results ofthe comparisons indicated that educational and competencyrequirements for CHS managers are different from thoserequired of the wider health service management workforce.Therefore, specific strategies are needed to train and developcurrent and future CHS managers. The study furthersuggested that stronger partnerships between CHSorganizations, managers, and professional and researchinstitutions should be built to enable the development of acompetent CHS management workforce.

Keywords: health service managers, managementcompetencies, management skills, health service managementworkforce, community health services