Austerity, staff inadequacy, and contracting-out social services: How many government inquiries does it take to improve social policy outcomes in aged care?

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Australian Journal of Public Administration

Volume

80

Issue

4

First Page

790

Last Page

808

Publisher

Wiley

School

School of Business and Law

RAS ID

36014

Comments

Farr‐Wharton, B., Brunetto, Y., & Xerri, M. (2021). Austerity, staff inadequacy, and contracting‐out social services: How many government inquiries does it take to improve social policy outcomes in aged care?. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 80(4), 790-808.

https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8500.12463

Abstract

This study examines policy implementation as it unfolds from policy, to the contractors and then to its impact on employees delivering the social service. Multilevel statistical analysis is used to examine survey data from 36 contractors and 542 employees. The use of multilevel analysis provides a methodological tool and subsequent analysis new to the discipline of public administration. The results indicate a strong positive association between resource (in)adequacy decision-making at the contractor level and employee outcomes. The contribution of the paper is new evidence to support the widening of existing quality care indicators to include organisational support metrics for contractors.

DOI

10.1111/1467-8500.12463

Access Rights

subscription content

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS