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42/ 2009
Bonn, 08.12.2009
Leadership and management competences more in demand than ever within the social services and health system
The results of a study conducted by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) on the development of uniform national advanced training regulations for non-medical occupations within the social services and health system have revealed that, from the point of view of the employers, a considerable requirement for qualified leadership and management staff exists within the social services and health sector. The main areas of deployment for such staff within middle management are, in particular, in-patient, part in-patient and out-patient institutions within the nursing and long-term care sector, larger out-patient medical facilities, youth services and provision of support for the disabled. Notwithstanding this, employment opportunities will also arise for staff qualified in this way in other major institutions within the social services and health system in which "organisational and systems management" is required.
Over the course of recent years, medical and technological progress, epidemiological changes and demographic developments resulting in greater numbers of chronically ill and multi-morbid patients and patients requiring long-term care have combined with serious economic change to initiate cost-cutting processes within the social services and health system. These processes are bringing changes to qualifications requirements, work organisation and working conditions in their wake. Increasing competition and cost pressures in particular are creating a need for structural changes and new forms of company cooperation. In light of these upheavals, established qualifications and occupational structures are coming under increasing pressure for change and continuing training for skilled and leadership staff in middle management in particular is taking on a new quality.
Many training opportunities currently exist at middle management level in the social services and health system. These range from a whole host of uncoordinated advanced training regulations at chamber level pursuant to § 54 of the Vocational Training Act to a large amount of provision specific to a particular federal state, topic, provider or institution and also extend to include a considerable number of Bachelor courses of study.
Having investigated training needs, fields of activity, task areas and future skills requirements for middle management staff against this background, BIBB has used the results as the basis for drawing up a concept for upgrading training in accordance with § 53 BBiG ("Certified senior clerk for social services and the healthcare system").
This new advanced training provision is aimed at those who have completed vocational education and training in a recognised training occupation and at those who have obtained a qualification in health and social services occupations regulated by Federal Government or federal state law. It is in particular targeted at healthcare professionals and nurses, qualified medical and dental employees, healthcare management assistants, carers for the elderly and employees in commercial and administrative occupations who have worked at major healthcare and social services institutions over a longer period of time or are still working at such institutions.
According to the BIBB study, the main areas of focus for these "new" management staff in terms of their activities and skills profile will be in human resources management, work and organisational development, cooperation, quality and cost management, planning, administration and deployment of IT. Appropriately qualified staff will mainly take on clerical, organisational and leadership tasks. In order to do so, they will need to be able to adjust to new methods and systems of operational and work organisation, organisational development and human resources and training management.
The study on "Certified senior clerk for social services and the healthcare system" has been published as a BIBB "Research Discussion Paper" (No. 111) and is available for download on the BIBB website at www.bibb.de/wdp (German language resource).
Points of contact at BIBB for further information:
- Gisela Mettin, Tel.: 0228 / 107-2331; e-mail: mettin@bibb.de
- Thomas Borowiec, Tel.: 0228 / 107-2324; e-mail: borowiec@bibb.de
