Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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The use of mechanical restraint with people who engage in severe self-injurious behaviour: impact on support staff
- Authors:
- BETHEL Nichola, BEAIL Nigel
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 7(5), 2013, pp.312-318.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: There continues to be a small group of people who have intellectual disabilities who need some form of restraint in their support plan due to their self-injurious behaviour. The mechanical restraint restricts their freedom of movement to help prevent injury. Despite the growing literature on the use of such devices, there is very limited literature looking at the impact the use of mechanical restraints has upon service users and support staff using them. The aim of this study was to ascertain the experiences of support staff who apply the restraints to the people they support. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative methodology was utilised. A semi-structured interview was conducted with nine support workers who: directly worked with a client with intellectual disabilities who engage in self-injurious behaviours; followed positive behavioural support plans developed with a multi-disciplinary team; applied restraints as a response to severe self-injurious behaviours to prevent harm; and they had to have been directly involved in the application and removal of the mechanical restraints in the last week. Content analysis utilising emergent coding was used to analyse the data. Findings: All participants described using mechanical restraints as having a negative impact upon them. Participants said they manage the negative impact by reframing, inhibiting their emotions, following support plans closely and gaining support from other staff. Participants described concerns and unmet needs regarding whether they were applying the restraints correctly, the responsibility of teaching others to use restraints, not feeling prepared on starting their current job and that the impact/concerns of using restraints is not talked about. Recommendations for practice are made. Originality/value: This is the first study to explore the views of care staff who are required to use mechanical restraint. It provides insight on the impact of this on them. (Publisher abstract)
Sexual abuse prevention: a training program for developmental disabilities service providers
- Authors:
- BOWMAN Rachel A., SCOTTI Joseph R., MORRIS Tracy L.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 19(2), March 2010, pp.119-127.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
It has been reported that persons with developmental disabilities are at an increased risk for becoming victims of sexual abuse, and research has revealed that the largest group of identified perpetrators of sexual abuse is within developmental disability service providers. The purpose of this study was to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of a sexual abuse prevention training program. Participants included one hundred and twenty four developmental disability service providers, from West Virginia, who were administered a survey assessing knowledge and attitudes before and after the training workshop. Approximately 55% of individuals served by these agencies were children under the age of 18 years. Findings showed that small improvements in knowledge and attitudes about sexual abuse and the sexuality of persons with developmental disabilities were identified. However, more general attitudes about individuals with developmental disabilities did not change. Implications for future research in this area are highlighted.
Service providers’ perceptions of and responses to bullying of individuals with disabilities
- Author:
- COOK Erin E.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 21(4), 2017, pp.277-296.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
A sample of 124 service providers (e.g. mental health professionals, educators, administrators) completed a survey about bullying of individuals with disabilities and the use and perceived effectiveness of resources and strategies to address bullying. Providing support and performing an action in response to bullying were reported to be used more often and were perceived as more effective than education and minimising/ignoring. Service providers who reported that the individuals they worked with experienced cyberbullying more frequently were more likely to take action and use education. Those who attributed victimisation to social differences were more likely to provide support. (Publisher abstract)
Preventing abuse through pre-employment checks: an international review
- Authors:
- MANTHORPE Jill, LIPMAN Valerie
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 17(6), 2015, pp.341-350.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to summarise the findings of a desk-based international review investigating the checking of staff and volunteers working with adults who are vulnerable or at risk (or similarly defined) receiving social care in their own homes, or in day centres or residential care. Design/methodology/approach: In England, as part of the government’s attempts to prevent harm to vulnerable people, employers must check if their staff or volunteers are barred from working with vulnerable adults in the health and care sectors or if they have a relevant criminal record. This review sought to explore practices elsewhere, with a view to informing policy and practice debates. The review was undertaken in winter 2014-2015. It mainly involved a search of internet-based material and databases. This was further informed by communications with experts and practitioners from different countries. Findings: The review found a variety of practices, ranging from no checks to substantial checks involving fingerprinting. Reasons for checks identified in different national contexts extend from efforts to stop fraudulent use of government subsidies to minimising the risk of harm to vulnerable adults, and more positively to enhance user and public trust in care providers. A small number of countries place particular emphasis on the rights of individuals to privacy and rehabilitation and this moral imperative overrides other policy goals. This review highlighted a lack of clarity in publicly available documents about the potentially multiple policy goals of different schemes and suggests that there may be advantages to clarifying the options available from other countries. Research limitations/implications: This review was confined to English language material and to material located through internet searching. Some material may not have been updated on internet sites. Originality/value: The details of the processes have not previously been collated to the best of the authors’ knowledge. (Publisher abstract)
Facing the possibility: supporting managers in preventing and handling abuse allegations against staff
- Authors:
- BAILEY Gill, KITSON Deborah
- Publisher:
- Association for Residential Care
- Publication year:
- 2001
- Pagination:
- 159p.
- Place of publication:
- Chesterfield
Abuse of people with a learning disability can occur by members of staff in residential services. This book informs staff of residential services the risks and provides staff training, information and advice. In particular it examines prevention measures for such abuse.
Staff reactions to self-injurious behaviours in learning disability services: attributions, emotional responses and helping
- Authors:
- JONES Cheryl, HASTINGS Richard P.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 42(2), June 2003, pp.189-203.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study explores an amended version of Weiner's helping behaviour model potentially more specific to the context of care staff working with people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviours. Key elements of the helping model (causal attributions, affective responses and helping behaviour) were assessed using self-report questionnaires. Helping behaviour was conceptualised as behaviour likely to reinforce challenging behaviour rather than as willingness to expend extra effort helping. 123 care staff in adult services viewed one of two videos depicting a person with learning disabilities engaging in self-injurious behaviour. Staff completed self-report scales after viewing the video material. Results found little evidence for the predicted associations between causal attributions and both positive and negative afffect. The study found no evidence that Weiner's model could be amended to account for staff working with challenging behaviour. Discusses the potential utility of alternative models in addition to methodological and conceptual issues.
Intellectual and HIV infection: a service related study of policies and staff attitudes
- Authors:
- MACDONALD Raymond A.R., MURRAY James L., LEVENSON Victor L.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 12(4), 1999, pp.348-357.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Reports on a study of staff knowledge and attitudes in relation to policies on HIV infection in organisations providing services to people with intellectual disabilities. Staff in three different service providers (NHS, social service and private and voluntary organisations) were sent the staff attitudes towards persons with learning disabilities and HIV infection scale. 46 percent of respondents did not know or were unsure of policies concerning clients with HIV infection; 69 percent of respondents reported that these policies either did not influence their behaviour or that they were unsure if they did. The results are discussed with reference to HIV prevention, health promotion and appropriate service support for people with intellectual disabilities.
Working with challenging behaviour: an in-service training pack for all staff working with pupils with learning difficulties
- Authors:
- BISHTON Helen, et al
- Publisher:
- Lucky Duck Publishing
- Publication year:
- 1996
- Pagination:
- 5 booklets in pack.
- Place of publication:
- Bristol
Training pack containing units on: staff reactions and attitudes - the school ethos; understanding and assessing challenging behaviour; prevention; crisis management; and responding to challenging behaviour.
Prevention and detection of abuse
- Author:
- SEATON Marie
- Journal article citation:
- Elders the Journal of Care and Practice, 4(4), December 1995, pp.5-27.
Over recent years, abuse of vulnerable people such as elderly with dementia, those with a learning disability or mental health problem has received increased publicity. This article outlines guidelines prepared by the charity United Response to guide and assist all staff, who may need to know how to act when abuse is alleged and also to assist staff in identifying signs that abuse may be occurring or that a situation exists which might lead to abuse. Covers the need for staff training, definitions of abuse and necessary procedures.
The relationship between training and the experience of aggression in the workplace in residential care staff working in learning disability services
- Authors:
- MURRAY G.C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities for Nursing Health and Social Care, 3(4), December 1999, pp.214-218.
Uses a questionnaire to examine the following in 50 social care staff: the experience of workplace aggression in staff supporting individuals with a learning disability, the extent to which staff had received training in the prevention and management of aggressive behaviour and the relationship between training and staff confidence in dealing with aggression. Staff reported strategies for dealing with aggression which mainly involved withdrawal of themselves and others rather than physical interventions. However, there was a neglect of longer-term strategies for dealing with aggression. Implications for practice are discussed.