Job Satisfaction of Home Care Assistants Related to Managerial Practices

ABSTRACT

This article addresses the question, “How do specific managerial practices support home care assistants' job satisfaction?” Staff from three home care agencies were surveyed regarding their perceptions of specific managerial practices and intrinsic job satisfaction. Results of a hierarchical regression model indicate that supportive leadership practices, client-centered in-service training style, and mission implementation together explained 52% of the variance in intrinsic job satisfaction. Supportive leadership was described as the extent to which a supervisor communicates effectively, shows personal concern or caring, and maintains high professional standards. Mission implementation was defined as how strongly the staff felt the mission influenced the hiring process, orientation, in-services, and everyday management. Effective in-services included discussions of types of clients and how to effectively handle common challenges.

KEYWORDS:

• Home care
• job satisfaction
• nurse's aide
• nursing assistant
• management practices
• leadership
• mission
• in-services