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Thinking on your feet: understanding the immediate responses of staff to adults who challenge intellectual disability services
- Authors:
- RAVOUX Peggy, BAKER Peter, BROWN Hilary
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 25(3), May 2012, pp.189-202.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Previous research suggests that there is a significant gap between the conceptualisation of good practice in challenging behaviour management strategies and current practice in intellectual disability services in the UK. This study investigated staff members’ perspectives of managing clients with challenging behaviours. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven staff (ranging from managers to support workers) in two residential services in the independent sector. Both provided 24 hour support to four individuals. One service used a specific training package referred to as Non-Abusive Psychological and Physical interventions, the other used a positive behaviour support framework to inform their behavioural management policy. Service documents on challenging behaviour management were also examined. Analysis of the responses focussed on staff members’ immediate responses to clients’ difficult behaviours and their decision-making processes. The immediate responses of staff were the result of complex appraisals shaped by their service context involving the core processes of making the right choice and prioritising the best interests of all involved. The authors conclude that staff members’ responses can be understood as a dynamic and retroactive process, where their past and current challenging behaviour management influence their responses to clients in the future.
An examination of the addition of video informed reflective practice to the active support toolkit
- Authors:
- BAKER Peter, APPLETON Philippa, WILLIAMS Rosie
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 45(3), 2017, pp.180-189.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: This study evaluated a package of Active Support (AS), which included standard training with additional video informed reflective practice. Materials and Methods: The training package was implemented as part of a service improvement initiative in four residential intellectual disability homes, using a concurrent multiple baseline across environments design. Training consisted of a 1-day workshop, and follow-up coaching. Momentary time sampling was used to measure engagement levels and staff assistance. A new observational tool was piloted to code the presence of positive and negative interactions between staff and the people with intellectual disabilities. Results: Results showed that service user engagement levels and staff assistance increased significantly following the training. There was also a significant increase in positive interactions and a significant decrease in negative interactions between staff and service users. Conclusion: The implications of these results are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
Experiences of violence at work in community intellectual disability teams
- Authors:
- DAYNES Shona, WILLS Sarah, BAKER Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 5(3), 2011, pp.6-14.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of violent or threatening behaviour experienced by staff working with people with intellectual disabilities and to consider training needs. A questionnaire survey was sent to NHS staff working in 6 community intellectual disability teams in South East England regarding experiences of violence at work within the previous 6 months. 34% of the respondents had experienced at least one form of verbal or physical aggression as listed in the questions. These respondents were invited to take part in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were undertaken with 14 participants, and analysed using thematic analysis. This article describes the study and findings, with examples from the interviews. Three main themes emerged in the data: the perceived risks for community intellectual disability team workers, effective risk management strategies and why these are not always utilised, and how workers develop skills to manage violence at work. The authors discuss the complexity of the issue of experiences of violence at work for community intellectual disability team staff, gaps in current formal training, and the role of informal learning processes and information sharing. They conclude that the study findings suggest that risk assessment and management requires greater consideration.
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.