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Writing about stress: the impact of a stress-management programme on staff accounts of dealing with stress
- Authors:
- OORSOUW Wietske M. W. J. van, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(3), 2014, pp.236-246.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Helping staff serving clients with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour to cope with stress has implications for their own well-being and for the lives of those they support. Method: This study examined staff members' views of stress and the effectiveness of a stress-management intervention. Effectiveness was assessed using written assignments regarding stress management, and changes in views presented were tested in a pre- and post-test control group design. Results: In the first phase, a content analysis was conducted across groups, which revealed that participants expressed a broad variety of views about stress and coping mechanisms, with considerable individual differences. In the second phase, a more fine-grained quantitative analysis was conducted to assess training effectiveness. Results showed an increase in the proportion of coping strategies referred to by the experimental group post-training. This positive change remained at follow-up. Conclusions: The results of the content analysis and the outcome data have implications for staff training.
Building psychological resilience in support staff caring for people with intellectual disabilities: pilot evaluation of an acceptance-based intervention
- Authors:
- NOONE Stephen J., HASTINGS Richard P.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 13(1), March 2009, pp.43-53.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Support staff in intellectual disability services may experience significant work-related stress. The aim of the present study was to pilot an intervention called the Promotion of Acceptance in Carers and Teachers (PACT). Fourteen staff provided data on work stress and general wellbeing before and after attending PACT workshops over 1.5 days. A waiting list control subgroup of six staff also completed measures over a 6 week period. Support staff distress reduced significantly from pre-intervention to follow-up, whereas their reports of work-related stressors increased slightly. Psychological wellbeing and work stress did not change over time in the waiting list sample. Although the study is not tightly controlled, these pilot data suggest that the PACT may have a beneficial effect on staff wellbeing whilst not necessarily directly reducing experience of work stress. Thus, the PACT shows promise as a means of developing psychological resilience in support staff.
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.
Training staff to manage challenging behaviour
- Authors:
- OORSOUW Wietske M. W. J. van, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 23(2), March 2010, pp.192-196.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Prevalence of severe challenging behaviour in individuals with intellectual disabilities is high, with staff consistently indicating this behaviour as being one of the most stressful aspects of their job. This paper describes the development of a training package for staff working with clients presenting challenging behaviour designed to: increase their knowledge regarding challenging behaviour; and to improve the quality of physical intervention techniques. The latter was intended to reduce staff anxiety about dealing with incidents and limit physical risk of injury to both clients and themselves. Sessions concerning theories of challenging behaviour were combined with physical intervention training. Effectiveness was scored using self-assessment questionnaires and observation of staff skills. Training effectiveness was tested in a pre and post test control group design. Findings showed the training programme proved to be effective, where staff knowledge of challenging behaviour and the quality of physical intervention techniques increased significantly. Test scores remained above pre-test levels at follow-up, and staff members evaluated the training positively.
Support workers and people with learning disabilities: participative and life history research
- Authors:
- MONAGHAN Valerie, CUMELLA Stuart
- Journal article citation:
- Housing Care and Support, 12(3), October 2009, pp.28-36.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This report details undisclosed participant and life history research based on one support worker’s experiences over ten years, whilst in the employ of six differently sized private, family led and public agencies providing community-based residential and day care for people with learning disabilities. It illustrates the challenges and factors at play within this sector of care. The authors describe how, although often unqualified and untrained, support workers tend to have the highest day-to-day contact with people with a learning disability. It was observed that a lack of training was often associated with a limited awareness of the needs, observable impact on the quality of care delivered and added to stress among permanent and agency staff. Person centred approaches had limited impact especially with clients with severely impaired communication. It was noted that smaller, family managed organisations were the most committed to induction, training and individualised care practices. It is suggested that the impact of agency size on quality of care needs further research to establish whether the extended lines of management and standardised procedures more common in large residential care providers are causing disempowerment of clients as well as staff. The underbelly of the dispersed pattern of learning disability services which have replaced the mental handicap hospitals in the United Kingdom is detailed by these authors who call for increases in induction, training for management and their staff, and for continuing management support to help staff manage stress.
Staff stress and challenging behaviour on a medium secure development disabilities ward for women: the outcomes of organisational change, and clinical intervention
- Authors:
- LONG C.G., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Forensic Practice, 10(3), November 2008, pp.4-11.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The effects of organisational change on a medium secure ward for women with developmental disabilities are examined. Intervention followed the BAITS model in focusing on behavioural analysis, intervention, training and support as a way of amalgamating psychological perspectives to address problems and promote positive attitude change. The positive benefits of this programme are described in terms of pre- and post-changes in the perceived work environment, job satisfaction and burn-out, and levels of disturbed behaviour. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of promoting positive evidence-based practices in secure developmental disability services.
Understanding factors that influence staff responses to challenging behaviours: an exploratory interview study
- Author:
- HASTINGS Richard P.
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Handicap Research, 8(4), 1995, pp.296-320.
- Publisher:
- BIMH Publications
Staff beliefs about challenging behaviours, and their perception of their working environment, are important for two main reasons. Firstly, the manner in which staff define challenging behaviour affects who is labelled as a challenge, and who is referred to specialist services. Secondly, staff views of their working environment may help us to understand why staff interact with people with learning disabilities in apparently counter-habilitative ways outlined in previous research. These issues were investigated in a systematic semi-structured interview of care staff. These findings, and their implications for research and practice, are discussed.
Physical abuse and physical interventions in learning disabilities: an element of risk?
- Authors:
- BAKER Peter, ALLEN David
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 3(2), May 2001, pp.25-31.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
People with learning disabilities who present challenging behaviour are particularly vulnerable to physical abuse. This article argues that training in physical intervention could well be a critical variable in determining whether this abuse takes place. Recommendations designed to minimise the risks associated with physical interventions are made.
Influence of gender, parental health, and perceived expertise of assistance upon stress, anxiety, and depression among parents of children with autism
- Authors:
- SHARPLEY Christopher, BITSIKA Vicki, EFREMIDIS Bill
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 22(1), March 1997, pp.19-28.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
A survey of Australian parents of children with autism was administered on a confidential and anonymous basis to find out influences on their levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Independent variables were: gender of parents, age of child and age of onset, parental health, access to other family members, and level of understanding of those family members of the child's problems. Data indicated that, although social support has previously been posited as an alleviating factor for parental stress, this may be a result of the perceived expertise of the family member who provides respite care for the parents. Issues of self-efficacy, training in behaviour management, and provision of home-based care for parents are discussed.
Towards integration: comprehensive services for people with mental handicaps
- Editor:
- SINES David
- Publisher:
- Harper and Row
- Publication year:
- 1988
- Pagination:
- 339p., bibliogs.
- Place of publication:
- London
Examples and recommendations for the community care of mentally handicapped people.