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Care staff perceptions of choking incidents: what details are reported?
- Authors:
- GUTHRIE Susan, LECKO Caroline, RODDAM Hazel
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 28(2), 2015, pp.121-132.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Following a series of fatal choking incidents in one UK specialist service, this study evaluated the detail included in incident reporting. This study compared the enhanced reporting system in the specialist service with the national reporting and learning system. Methods: Eligible reports were selected from a national organisation and a specialist service using search terms relevant to adults with intellectual disability and/or mental ill health. Qualitative analysis was completed with comparison of themes identified in both sets of reports. Findings: The numbers of choking incidents identified in national reports suggest under-reporting compared with the specialist service and varying levels of severity. Themes included trends in timing, care setting and food textures as perceived by staff. Conclusions: This study demonstrates paucity of detail in reporting in systems without additional question prompts. Adding these questions requires staff to include greater detail which enables learning and risk mitigation to take place. (Edited publisher abstract)
Practitioner explanations for the increasing use of restraint measures in the care of people with intellectual disabilities in Norway 2000-11
- Authors:
- SONDENAA Erik, DRAGSTEN Frode, WHITTINGTON Richard
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 12(1), 2015, pp.58-63.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The use of restraint measures in the care of people with an intellectual disability (ID) and challenging behaviour (CB) is recognized as problematic around the world and attempts have been made to reduce reliance upon this coercive approach. In Norway, legislation was enacted to restrict the use of restraint but paradoxically since it was implemented in 1999 there has been a very large increase in the use of one form of restraint: statutory or planned interventions. This study examined professionals' explanations for this unexpected increase. ID care staff (n = 178) and local government supervisors (n = 17) completed a semi-structured questionnaire (total n = 195). All participants were involved directly or indirectly in implementing restraint. Comparisons were made between the different levels of care staff and the supervisors. The care staff interpreted the increase as due to greater awareness of the regulations and restraint interventions. Supervisors had low expectations of a decrease in restraint rates in the future. It was felt that the new regulations on the use of restraints in the care of people with ID and CB had raised awareness of ethical issues and improved education on this topic. Future research should address possible strategies for sustaining these improvements and at the same time stabilizing or reducing the number of people receiving restrictive care. (Publisher abstract)
Commentary on "Why study the history of learning disability?"
- Authors:
- BRADSHAW Jill, McGILL Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 20(1), 2015, pp.11-14.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on "Why study the history of learning disability?" by C.F. Goodey. Design/methodology/approach: In his paper, Goodey makes the point that the term "learning disability" is not a fixed, stable concept, but one which has changed and evolved over time. This commentary explores the difference between care staff and professional understandings of people with learning disabilities including how these have changed in recent times. Findings: Care staff knowledge is likely to be based on direct experiences of particular people with learning disabilities whilst professional knowledge is likely to be based on theoretical concepts of general application. These differences in source of knowledge may interfere with desired collaboration between staff and professionals. Originality/value: This commentary suggests that differences in understandings should be recognised and the application of theory to practice is far from simple. (Publisher abstract)
Inconsistencies in the roles of family- and paid- carers in monitoring health issues in people with learning disabilities: some implications for the integration of health and social care
- Author:
- WILLIS Diane S.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 43(1), 2015, pp.24-31.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Changes in the living circumstances of people with learning disabilities have seen responsibility for their health become the provenance of paid-and family-carers. As part of a larger study exploring breast cancer screening in women with learning disabilities, thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with three family-carers and ten paid-carers. Interview topics covered demographics, keeping healthy, the experience of breast screening and decision-making. Findings revealed that the role of these carers was undefined, leading to difficulty in deciphering who was responsible for the health care of the people they supported, with some paid-carers claiming that health was out of their remit. The difficulty of monitoring health problems of people with learning disabilities was noted, and carers disclosed skills and techniques that they used to explain health messages to individuals. If the health needs of people with learning disabilities are to be met, then a more consistent approach to health care within the community setting is needed, especially in terms of the remit of paid-and family-carers and with the integration of health and social services. (Publisher abstract)
Who will care after I'm gone? An insight into the pressures facing parents of people with learning disabilities
- Author:
- FITZROY
- Publisher:
- FitzRoy
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 25
- Place of publication:
- Petersfield
The report draws on the findings from three focus groups and in-depth interviews with parents of people with learning disabilities to identify the pressures they face looking after their sons and daughters, and their concerns for the future. A online survey was also completed by 188 care frontline care workers to find out their perspective. The report summarises the key issues raised by parents in the research and provides an individual case study to illustrate their concerns. Key issues identified were: the support available to their son or daughter after their parents had died; the difficulties of securing good quality care and support, and feeling they needed to be ‘in crisis’ to do so; cuts in funding and lack of continuity of care; and incorrect needs assessment from social services. Issues identified in the survey of front line care staff included concerns about how the spending cuts would affect their role and the support they could give; and the poor social status of their job. The report’s recommendations call for local authorities to provide a whole lifetime approach to care; an improvement in the status and pay of care work; and the promotion of adult family placement, such as Shared Lives schemes, to enable adults outside the immediate family to provide people with learning disabilities with care and support. (Edited publisher abstract)