Mobile home nursing care faces particular challenges: nurses often work autonomously and make decisions on the spot – usually in very specific conditions. At the same time, the current co-determination options that could improve their work situation fall short. This is precisely where the research project “OMAHA: Organising and Co-Determination – Action Research for Mobile Home Nursing Care” comes in.
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Giving a clear voice to mobile care at home
“Our goal is to give care a voice – especially by strengthening the role of works councils, which are often the voice of many caregivers,” explains Prof. (FH) Dr. Alexander Braun from IMC Krems, who initiated the project. ”Works councils are the ideal lever to initiate improvements. They are familiar with the challenges on the ground and have the necessary commitment to change working conditions.”
The research project, which is funded by the “Arbeit 4.0” project fund of the Lower Austrian Chamber of Labour, takes a participatory approach. Works council members are trained as co-researchers who work with caregivers and union officials to develop solutions.
A bridge between science and practice
For Sonja Hoer, chairwoman of the works council at Hilfswerk Niederösterreich Betriebs GmbH and an active participant in the project, “OMAHA” is a project close to her heart: “After 20 years in nursing, I know exactly what the problems are. Works councils are crucial to making the voice of nursing staff heard and to initiating change.” She sees the project as an opportunity to dispel prejudices about home nursing care and to make the often invisible work of her colleagues visible.
Hoer also stresses the importance of scientific support: “It is important that we not only act on the basis of practical experience, but also include well-founded data and new perspectives. This gives our demands more weight and shows where action is really needed.”
Pioneering work for better working conditions
With OMAHA, IMC Krems is breaking new ground. It is one of the first projects to apply Labour Union Revitalisation Studies – an internationally proven approach to strengthening employee participation – to the care industry. “We want to show what modern co-determination that is specifically tailored to the needs of mobile care can look like. We have been inspired by experiences in other countries and are convinced that our project will provide important impetus,” says Braun.
The project team has big plans: in several phases, needs have already been analysed and innovative solutions developed in close cooperation with the stakeholders. Regular feedback loops ensure that the results are practical and have a long-term impact.
Together for strong care
Ultimately, the aim is to give care a voice and to put it at the centre of attention – not only as a profession, but also as a social issue. “This project is a step in the right direction to improve working conditions in care and to give care workers the recognition they deserve,” Hoer summarises.
With the OMAHA project, IMC Krems and the works council of Hilfswerk Niederösterreich Betriebs gmbH show how science and practice can work hand in hand to make the care industry fit for the future. It is a project that inspires hope and has the potential to bring about real change.