DOI: 10.5176/2251-3140_2.1.27
Authors: Zhanming Liang, Peter Howard, and Lee Koh
Abstract:
The community health service (CHS) sector in Australia has been undergoing extensive changes to keep pace
with the rapidly increasing needs for and scope of community-based services. Competent managers are critical to the successful implementation and sustainability of these changes and the continuity of quality service provision. The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the competency requirements of Levels II and III CHS managers
in Victoria, Australia. Position description analysis was performed to identify educational, professional, experiential and competency requirements that employers expect of Levels II and III managers in CHS. The competency
requirements for CHS managers generated from position description analysis were compared with those identified by the literature and with recent research findings by the current research team’s Managerial Competency Assessment
Project (MCAP) to identify any discrepancies. The results of the comparisons indicated that educational and competency
requirements for CHS managers are different from those required of the wider health service management workforce.
Therefore, specific strategies are needed to train and develop current and future CHS managers. The study further
suggested that stronger partnerships between CHS organizations, managers, and professional and research institutions should be built to enable the development of a competent CHS management workforce.
Keywords: health service managers, management competencies, management skills, health service management workforce, community health services
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