Optimising the residential and community aged care workforce: The evidence-based development of clinical leadership in middle managers in aged care

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Strong, effective clinical leadership is critical in improving healthcare workforce retention and care quality, and reducing associated costs. Yet little evidence exists about the best ways to enable middle managers of aged care to develop clinical leadership skills, critical to the effective delivery of quality care. The trial is part of a larger study which has two aims: 1) to develop and promote evidence-based tools for improving leadership in the sector including a clinical leadership qualities framework (ACLQF) and a clinical and managerial leadership program in aged care (CLiAC); 2) and using a cluster randomised controlled design, to determine the feasibility and the effectiveness of CLiAC in improving workforce recruitment and retention and care safety and quality, which have not been previously researched in the aged care sector. Hypotheses include: the intervention group will have the following significant benefits over the non-intervention group. HP1 – enhanced work environment for aged care staff HP2 – improved care quality and safety for aged care recipients HP3 – reduced aged care staff turnover rates HP4 – reduced aged care staff absenteeism HP5 – improved aged care staff intention to stay and decreased intention to leave HP6 – reduced stress levels in aged care staff HP7 – increased job satisfaction for aged care staff HP8 – reduced cost of retaining and recruiting aged care staff, as well as cost of care HP9 – improved aged care managers’ knowledge and skills in leadership and management