Full record(s)

Record no:

1 of 1

Author:

HAWKINS R.; REDLEY M.; HOLLAND A. J.;

Title:

Duty of care and autonomy: how support workers managed the tension between protecting service users from risk and promoting their independence in a specialist group home.

Reference:

Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 55(9), September 2011, pp.873-884.

ISSN paper:

0964-2633

ISSN online:

1365-2788

Abstract:

In the UK those paid to support adults with intellectual disabilities have to manage two potentially conflicting duties that are described in policy documents as being vital to their role: protecting service users (their duty of care) and recognising service users' autonomy. This study examines these issues in the context of supporting people with the genetic condition, Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS). The authors believe that the behaviours associated with PWS clearly illustrates the tension between respect for autonomy and duty of care. This article explores how support workers in a residential group home managed their competing duties in practice. This was an ethnographic study, comprising of qualitative observations, semi-structured interviews (14 staff and 8 residents) and documentary analysis. Risk was central to care delivery and support workers often adhered to standardised risk management procedures. The organisation required support workers to promote service users' independence and many thought acknowledging service users' autonomy and promoting their independence was important. To manage tensions between their differing duties, some support workers deviated from standardised risk management procedures to allow service users a degree of independence. The authors suggest that further work is needed by both residential services and policy makers to facilitate the reconciliation of the duty of care with the duty to recognise service users' autonomy in practice.

Journal home:

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Format:

article;

Topics:

care workers; duty of care; empowerment; group homes; independence; learning disabilities; professional conduct; professional role; residential care; risk management;

Content Type:

research;

Country/Region:

England;

Record ID:

www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk/profile.asp?guid=a9dbc266-f57d-4458-bb75-18527756718d