Dimensions of group home culture as predictors of quality of life outcomes

Abstract

Deinstitutionalization in Australia and other countries, such as England, Sweden and the United States (Mansell, Beadle-Brown, & Special Interest Research Group, 2010), has changed not only where, but also how people with intellectual disabilities live. Studies into the impact on people with intellectual disabilities of moving from institutions to group homes (i.e. community-based accommodation for 3-8 people, with 24 hr support available) demonstrate that they typically experience better quality of life (QOL) outcomes living in group homes (Kozma, Mansell, & Beadle-Brown, 2009). They have been found, for example, to experience greater levels of engagement in activities, participation in the community and choice making when living in group homes (Emerson & Hatton, 1996; Kozma et al., 2009). The concept of QOL has influenced both research into and delivery of supported accommodation services for people with intellectual disabilities as a measurable and valued outcome (Schalock, Verdugo, Gomez, & Reinders, 2016). Of relevance to measuring QOL, Schalock et al. (2002) proposed that it is a multidimensional construct influenced by personal and environmental factors, with subjective and objective components. Although research into deinstitutionalization has shown that QOL outcomes are generally better for people with intellectual

A systematic review of the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of health and social care professionals towards people with learning disabilities and mental health problems

“…Additional factors such as organisational work culture (Humphreys et al, 2020) can contribute to the development of positive or negative attitudes towards people with learning disabilities and mental health problems, which may impact on the quality of services and safety of people with learning disabilities. Organisations should focus on improving the attitudes of their staff by training opportunities, which can lead to an improvement in knowledge and competency.…”

Patterns of group home culture in organisations supporting people with intellectual disabilities: A cross-sectional study

“…Interventions are also potentially warranted in group homes with lower scores across multiple GHCS subscales, which may be indicative of a poor quality culture. More specifically, the findings from Humphreys et al (2020a) suggest that interventions that enhance Effective Team Leadership and Supporting Well-Being may potentially increase residents' levels of engagement and community participation, respectively.…”

The strength of Frontline Practice Leadership in Australian supported accommodation services: Challenges confronting service providers

“…Studies of service culture also suggest the importance of strong practice leadership in accommodation services (Bigby & Beadle‐Brown, 2016; Bigby et al, 2015; Humphreys et al, 2020). Several studies also show that frontline managers perceive practice leadership as important to achieving good service user outcomes and staff satisfaction (Berlin Hallrup et al, 2019; Deveau & McGill, 2016).…”