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Support workers within learning/intellectual disability services perception of their role, training and support needs
- Authors:
- WINDLEY Debbie, CHAPMAN Melanie
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 38(4), December 2010, pp.310-318.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study explores the perceptions of support workers working with adults with learning disabilities regarding their role, and their training and support needs. The study was carried out in a joint health and social care service which provides supported accommodation in ordinary dispersed housing in a British city. Data was collected by means of a focus group involving three support workers and semi-structured interviews with five other support workers. Participants saw their key role as maximising quality of life, identified ‘trial and error’ as the main mode of skill development for new staff and experienced stress as a result of conflict between their beliefs and demands of the service. Participants recognised their responsibility to model good and challenge poor practice; however, poor communication and assertiveness skills affected their ability to do this. A preference for more on site supervision to provide leadership was indicated. Training by the community learning disability team was highly regarded; however, there were indications that carers found this difficult to put into practice. It is suggested that development of personal skills and relating training to human rights and person-centred planning perspectives would best enable staff to carry out their roles.