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Occupational identity of staff and attitudes towards institutional closure
- Authors:
- VESALA Hannu T., TEITTINEN Antti, HEINONEN Pilvikki
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 19(3), 2014, pp.134-141.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: This paper analyses the attitudes of direct care workers towards the closure of an institution, and these attitudes’ relation to workers’ occupational identity. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected by postal questionnaire before the closure of the institution. The respondents consisted of two groups: direct care workers of the institution (n=93) and direct care workers of community-based residential units run by the same organization (n=117). Findings: The results clearly show that direct care workers in the institution, as a group, were against the closure of the institution. This is understandable, because the closure will irrevocably affect their work and also private life. There was also variance in the attitudes within this group: some were more willing to accept the change, some were more against it. Those opposing the closure seemed to be more reluctant in adopting the new kind of identity as supporters of the self-determination of their clients and also they felt more insecure about their own competence. (Edited publisher abstract)