Evolving Skill Mix in the Mental Health Services in Ireland

Cunningham, Jennifer (2023) Evolving Skill Mix in the Mental Health Services in Ireland. Doctoral thesis, SETU Waterford.

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Abstract

Skill mix is a topic that is widely discussed within health policy literature and government documents in several countries. There is large variation in terms of what is understood by the concept of ‘skill mix’ and there is a paucity of literature that attempts to analyse this concept. A lack of understanding of the concept can lead to highly localised and inconsistent interpretation and implementation of policy recommendations at local level. A better understanding of the concept of ‘skill mix’ and its attributes is required in order to ensure that the potential of skill mix is maximised. This study aims to explore the concept ‘skill mix’ and its application in workforce planning in the mental health services in Ireland. The research design consisted of a qualitative case study approach. A framework for the conduct of a comparative systematic international policy review was adopted to place policy in Ireland within a wider context. Individual in-depth interviews were used to collect data from those who engage with and influence policy making in the health services in Ireland, to explore how they conceptualise skill mix. Data derived from these interviews were organised using Computer Aided Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS), NVivo 12, and a ‘Framework’ approach was used to manage, analyse and identify themes. Findings from this study indicate that skill mix is a term that is deliberately ill-defined and misunderstood. The findings contribute towards achieving a better understanding of skill mix through the development of a conceptual model of skill mix for use in the mental health services. This is useful in terms of providing a sense of order to the messiness associated with the term due to its many attributes, as well as the other attributes and terms associated with it and the contextual and political factors that influence it. This has important implications for both policy and practice. It will be useful for policy makers to use this conceptual model as a tool to assist them to identify what dimension(s) of skill mix and corresponding attributes are implicated in the provision of a definition of skill mix that corresponds with what the policy is trying to achieve. This will assist policy makers and clinical stakeholders in ensuring a shared understanding of the concept. This is important as the level of understanding of the term may impact on the degree to which recommendations regarding skill mix are taken up by clinical stakeholders, thus influencing whether workforce policy aspirations in relation to this term are realised.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Mental health services - Ireland
Departments or Groups:	*NONE OF THESE*
Divisions:	School of Health Sciences > Department of Nursing
Depositing User:	Derek Langford
Date Deposited:	29 Apr 2024 15:13
Last Modified:	29 Apr 2024 15:13
URI:	https://repository.wit.ie/id/eprint/7777

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