Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Staff characteristics and attitudes towards the sexuality of people with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- MEANEY-TAVARES Rebecca, GAVIDIA-PAYNE Susana
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 37(3), September 2012, pp.269-273.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
People with learning disabilities often experience difficulties in correctly interpreting behavioural cues which may have detrimental outcomes with respect to their expression of sexuality. The identification of individual staff characteristics that have a relationship with specific attitudes of staff caring for people with learning disabilities may enable targeted training and better support. In this study, 66 participants from services for people with learning disabilities in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, completed a survey, including the Attitudes to Sexuality Questionnaire. Findings revealed that staff attitudes towards the sexuality of people with learning disabilities were quite positive. Age, programme agency position, and training uptake were all associated with positive staff attitudes. The authors concluded that targeted training programmes in sexuality can benefit direct care workers in general and older staff more specifically. Implications for training and practice are discussed.
Imposed identities and limited opportunities: advocacy agency staff perspectives on the construction of their clients with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- DOROZENKO Kate P., ROBERTS Lynne D., BISHOP Brian J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 19(3), 2015, pp.282-299.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Intellectual disability is commonly conceptualised as stigmatised identity; however, within the literature, the notion of a damaged identity is contested. The aim of this research was to explore the social construction of intellectual disability from the perspective of staff who work closely with people with intellectual disabilities. Informed by a contextualist perspective, this research was based on interviews with five staff members of an advocacy agency in a regional area of Australia. Causal layered analysis was used to deconstruct the interview data. Analysis of the interactions that emerged across the causal layers revealed a complex dynamic of world views, which served to dehumanise people with intellectual disabilities and blame them for their own fate (victim blaming). For transformative change to occur, understandings of the ‘problems’ of intellectual disability must be reformulated and those social structures and processes that support the relationship between the powerful and the powerless must be challenged. (Publisher abstract)
Being a valuable contributor on the frontline: the self‐perception of staff in group homes for people with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- QUILLIAM Claire, BIGBY Christine, DOUGLAS Jacinta
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 31(3), 2018, pp.395-404.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Group home frontline staff have a critical role in implementing service policies, yet research typically examines implementation issues from an organisational perspective. The aim of this study was to explore the self‐perception of frontline staff about their role in group homes for people with intellectual disability. Method: Constructivist grounded theory methodology guided the study. Data were collected with frontline staff through semistructured interviews and participant observations. Coding and sorting methods were used to analyse participants’ self‐perception. Results: Frontline staff felt they were valuable contributors who knew the service setting and residents well. Despite this staff felt powerless in their roles, excluded from organisational dialogue, stressed and exhausted. Conclusions: Frontline staff have critical insight into service implementation although disability service organisations may limit their capacity to contribute to this. Further action could explore new ways to better nurture frontline staff engagement in organisational dialogue. (Edited publisher abstract)
The training needs of staff supporting individuals ageing with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- WARK Stuart, HUSSAIN Rafat, EDWARDS Helen
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(3), 2014, pp.273-288.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: The issue of ageing within the cohort of people with intellectual disabilities has been an increasing focus for research. However, the training needs of the staff who support them has not been subject of extensive examination. Materials and Methods: A multiround Delphi project was conducted focusing upon the impact ageing issues have on the support provided by disability workers, and what training is required to address the identified areas. Results: Three rounds of the Delphi identified twenty-six separate important issues. A thematic analysis identified five main themes including Generic Training Issues; Medical Issues; Emerging Ageing Issues Requiring Changing Support; Mental Health Issues; and Quality of Life. Conclusions: The study identified a series of training priorities for staff assisting people ageing with an intellectual disability. It would appear possible for many training programmes to be developed and delivered with minimal cost impacts even within rural localities. (Original abstract)
Recruitment and retention of allied health professionals in the disability sector in rural and remote New South Wales, Australia
- Authors:
- LINCOLN Michelle, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 39(1), 2014, pp.86-97.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: People with disability living in rural areas are vulnerable to the loss of access to allied health services due to a critical shortage of allied health professionals (AHPs). This study aimed to investigate recruitment and retention issues of importance to AHPs providing services to people with disability in rural New South Wales, Australia. Method: Focus groups and semistructured interviews were conducted with 97 purposively sampled service providers in the disability sector. Interviews and focus groups were digitally recorded and transcribed. A modified grounded theory approach using thematic analysis and constant comparison was used to analyse the data. Results: Three major themes relating to recruitment and retention were identified: (a) flexible recruitment, (b) retention strategies that work, and (c) challenges to retention. Conclusions: AHPs in the disability sector identified some of the same issues influencing recruitment and retention as AHPs in the health, education, and private sectors. Several unique issues were also identified that will assist policymakers to improve recruitment and retention of AHPs employed in the disability sector in rural areas. (Publisher abstract)
Intellectual disability and sexuality: attitudes of disability support staff and leisure industry employees
- Authors:
- GILMORE Linda, CHAMBERS Brooke
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 35(1), March 2010, pp.22-28.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper suggests that the general attitudes of support staff and others in the community towards the sexuality of individuals with an intellectual disability have the potential to influence opportunities for normalised life experiences in the area of sexuality. A sample of 169 disability support staff and 50 employees from leisure and service industries, in Queensland, Australia, completed the Attitudes to Sexuality Questionnaires. It compared individuals with an intellectual disability, and individuals from the general population. Findings indicated that support staff and leisure workers reported generally positive attitudes towards the sexuality of individuals with an intellectual disability, but men were seen as having less self-control than women. Support staff were more cautious in their views about parenting, and both groups considered a lower level of sexual freedom to be desirable for women with an intellectual disability compared to women who are developing typically. The authors concluded that the attitudes of both groups were generally quite positive in relation to intellectual disability and sexuality.
Job satisfaction of community residential staff serving individuals with severe intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- FORD Jerry, HONNOR Jill
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 25(4), December 2000, pp.343-362.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study investigated the nature and sources of job satisfaction of direct services staff who work with individuals with severe intellectual disabilities in community group home settings in Australia. Findings suggested that staff held moderately favourable views toward their jobs, with work satisfaction reported in interactions with residents and families, the nature of the work itself, and supportive relationships with co-workers. Conversely, involvement in decision-making, opportunities for advancement, feelings of isolation, utilisation of skills, and lack of feedback on performance were reported as areas of concern. Analysis of respondents' demographics yielded few significant relationships with job satisfaction.
Factors associated with burnout in workers in residential facilities for people with an intellectual disability
- Authors:
- SHADDOCK A.J., HILL M., LIMBEEK C.A.H.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 23(4), 1998, pp.309-318.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Burnout is a syndrome which occurs frequently amongst individuals who work in human service occupations. The authors suggest that burnout is comprised of three dimensions - emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and reduced sense of personal accomplishment. Burnout has been shown not only to induce a decline in the quality of care provided to clients by staff, but it also is linked to job turnover, absenteeism and low morale. Reports the extent of association between the burnout scores of residential workers and variables such as religious affiliation, personal relationships, perceived skills levels, job satisfaction, case loads, decision-making and social support. The implications for policy development and service delivery are discussed.
Measuring practice leadership in supported accommodation services for people with intellectual disability: comparing staff-rated and observational measures
- Authors:
- BOULD Emma, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 43(2), 2018, pp.174-182.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Studies incorporating staff-rated or observational measures of practice leadership have shown that where practice leadership is stronger, active support is better implemented. The study aim was to compare measures of practice leadership used in previous research to determine the extent of their correspondence. Method: A subset of data from a longitudinal study regarding 29 front-line managers working across 36 supported accommodation services in Australia was used. An observed measure of practice leadership, based on an interview and observation of a front-line manager, was compared with ratings of practice leadership completed by staff. The quality of active support was rated after a 2-hour structured observation. Results: Correlations between staff-rated and observed measures were nonsignificant. Only the observed measure was correlated with the quality of active support. Conclusions: This study provides evidence to support using an observational measure of practice leadership rather than reliance on staff ratings. (Publisher abstract)
Providing end-of-life care in disability community living services: an organizational capacity-building model using a public health approach
- Authors:
- GRINDROD Andrea, RUMBOLD Bruce
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 30(6), 2017, pp.1125-1137.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: There is broad consensus within the disability field that the end-of-life care offered to people with intellectual disabilities should be of a quality consistent with that advocated by contemporary palliative care. In practice, however, various barriers are encountered when applying palliative care strategies to the end-of-life care of people with intellectual disabilities, particularly those in disability community living services. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used. Quantitative data were gathered through a survey of disability support staff working in government-managed community living services in the Australian state of Victoria. These quantitative data informed the collection of qualitative data through focus groups and research interviews. A public health palliative care framework provided the basis for developing an organisational change model from the consolidated data. Results: There is a strong relationship between organisational structure and culture, and both influence end-of-life practice in community living services. Barriers to good practice arise from the differing attitudes of paid carers involved, and from uncoordinated approaches reflecting misaligned service systems in the disability and palliative care fields. Organisational reorientation is crucial to achieving sustainable change that will support healthy dying. Conclusions: End-of-life care requires the collaboration of disability and palliative care services, but for care to achieve palliative care goals, the collaboration must be led by disability services. The authors outline here an organisational model they have developed from public health principles to manage end-of-life care in community living services. (Edited publisher abstract)