The informal culture of a direct care staff team supporting people with intellectual disabilities who present with behaviours that challenge

Abstract

Purpose Research into culture within intellectual disability services, has predominantly focussed on small group homes in Australia. The current investigation aimed to explore the transferability of the dimensions of culture identified in the literature, to a residential Intellectual Disability service in the UK. The purpose of this study was to better understand the impact of informal culture upon the behaviour of direct care staff, particularly around managing behaviour that challenges. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with direct care staff. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically using template analysis. Findings Themes regarding leadership, perceptions of managers, team functioning, and relationships between direct care staff and service users, were identified, corroborating the existing literature. Additional themes relating to being aware of the risks posed by service users, and the emotional impact of behaviour that challenges, also emerged. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first qualitative study to explore informal culture within a community residential Intellectual Disability service in the UK.

Transitions for older people with intellectual disabilities and behaviours that challenge others: A rapid scoping review

“…As our analysis has demonstrated, it is these social dynamics that are critical to promoting and impeding effective transitioning. In this context, although the need for appropriate training and support of professional staff is indubitable, equally the care delivered by those staff, and the organisations and systems within which they work, must be predicated on values that promote the human rights of those for whom they care (see, e.g., Banks et al, 2021 ; Farrell et al, 2010 ; Hastings et al, 2018 ; Olivier‐Pijpers et al, 2019 ; Osgood, 2019 ; Willems et al, 2014 ). Our review demonstrates a clear link between such values, effective working within and across different environments and systems of care, and successful transition.…”

Beyond the psychometrics: harnessing clinical psychology to improve the well-being of inpatient intellectual disability teams

“…Support staff described such strong negative emotions when discussing their experiences of supporting service who displayed behaviours that challenge that they had considered resignation (Banks et al , 2021). This was attributed to difficulty understanding the function of such behaviour and uncertainty regarding how to respond.…”

“…With compassion being integral to the treatment process, factors that can inhibit the development of therapeutic relationships between staff and service users and anything that can lead to emotional injury and compassion fatigue should be of interest to health-care managers. Interventions which are effective in enabling staff to manage negative emotions may be important for influencing existing ways of working and the quality of care provided may be of particular importance (Banks et al , 2021).…”