Assessment staff in home and community care services: issues of learning and professional identity in Australia

Home and Community Care (HACC) is a funding programme of the Commonwealth and State governments of Australia which supports the vast majority of community care services. Gaining access to basic community care services is via an assessment process undertaken by workers in roles that may be comprised partially or solely of assessment and care planning tasks. Arguably, the role of assessor in the HACC programme has become increasingly professionalised in recent years, and the complexity and demands of the role have increased. However, to date, little information has been available about the composition of this workforce, making initiatives to improve practice difficult to plan and implement. This paper reports findings of research from Victoria in which interviews were conducted with a range of key informants, and staff employed in client assessment roles. Results indicate considerable diversity on issues such as: the professional backgrounds of HACC assessment staff; the education, training and support they receive; how they learn their role; and what they draw upon to assist decision-making. A significant theme to emerge is that the nature of their practice derives substantially from the local contexts in which they work. In the absence of a single profession or narrative that guides their practice, they draw from a diverse range of knowledge sources. The significance of the workplace as a site of professional learning, which may provide the basis for the development of a new qualification for this workforce, is highlighted, as is the need for a professional body for this group of workers.