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Evaluation of a bereavement training program for staff in an intellectual disabilities service
- Authors:
- REYNOLDS Sile, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 5(1), 2008, pp.1-5.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The impact of a staff-training program on knowledge and confidence in supporting people with intellectual disabilities (ID) at the time of bereavement was examined. Thirty-three staff members from a Dublin, Ireland-based ID support service participated in the study. Both the training (n = 17) and control (n = 16) groups completed measures of confidence at the beginning and end of a 4-week period around supporting service users through a bereavement survey designed for the study, as well as the Staff Support and Satisfaction Questionnaire. During this interval, the training group completed a two-day training focusing on exploring existing strategies for supporting service users and providing staff with additional skills. Staff members also completed a survey of knowledge at the outset of the study. Over the 4 weeks, there was a significant increase in confidence among the training group, with no comparable changes in the control group. However, as predicted, neither group showed significant changes in general support or job satisfaction. The findings suggest that the training significantly increased staff members’ confidence in their ability to respond to the challenges of support service users during bereavement. The study's findings also have a number of practical implications, including the need to provide appropriate support for staff.
Supporting adults with an intellectual disability during experiences of loss and bereavement: staff views, experiences and suggestions for training
- Authors:
- McEVOY John, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 23(6), November 2010, pp.585-596.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Care staff are a source of support and information for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) following a bereavement. How staff perceive the loss experience has implications for the quality and level of support provided to individuals with ID at times of personal loss. This study investigated staff knowledge and attitudes to bereavement, experiences of supporting people with ID during times of loss, the degree of service agency support and staff training needs. Twenty-four staff members participated. Staff reported a lack of confidence and uncertainty, particularly around operational procedures following bereavement. Conflicting attitudes between themselves and the service agency around bereavement support procedures and a lack of awareness of the emotional impact of grief on service users and staff were highlighted by participants along with the need for quality information, skill development and further training. The paper concluded that service agencies need to be more proactive in supporting staff and in developing policy and guidelines in conjunction with practical training initiatives.
Developing an education intervention for staff supporting persons with an intellectual disability and advanced dementia
- Authors:
- FAHEY-McCARTHY Elizabeth, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 6(4), December 2009, pp.267-275.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study aimed to explore care concerns in supporting people with a learning disability and advanced dementia, and to develop, deliver and evaluate an educational intervention with staff in learning disability settings and specialist palliative care services. Fourteen focus group interviews were conducted with staff across six learning disability services and one specialist palliative care provider in the greater Dublin area. Qualitative descriptive analysis resulted in the emergence of key themes and formed the development of an educational intervention. Pre- and posttest questionnaires assessed responses to a pilot delivery of the educational intervention. Formal feedback from staff indicated that the educational intervention was highly valued and addressed key training concerns. They agreed that the training supported "ageing in place," and the preparation for a "good death" including support for staff, peers and family in their grief and bereavement. An educational intervention in the form of a trainer manual was produced to support cross-service system in-service training on issues of addressing advanced dementia in people with learning disabilities.
Impact of a 3-day training course on challenging behaviour on staff cognitive and emotional responses
- Authors:
- TIERNEY Edel, QUINLAND Dave, HASTINGS Richard P.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 20(1), January 2007, pp.58-63.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
A range of factors have been suggested as determinants of staff behaviour in the context of working with people with challenging behaviour. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a typical challenging behaviour staff training course had an effect on staff feelings of efficacy, their negative emotional reactions to challenging behaviour, and their causal beliefs. Forty-eight staff from intellectual disability organisations in the Health Service Executive Southern Region in Ireland attending a 3-day training course on understanding challenging behaviour and managing stress were assessed pre-training and at a 3-month follow-up. Questionnaires assessing self-efficacy, emotional reactions and causal beliefs were used. Perceived self-efficacy in dealing with challenging behaviours increased significantly from pre- to post-training. There were no significant changes in either emotional reactions to challenging behaviours or causal beliefs. In common with previous research, there was a sizeable impact on staff confidence and efficacy after a 3-day training course. Given the potential significance of emotional reactions both in terms of staff behaviour and their psychological well-being at work, more research is needed to explore how these reactions might best be dealt with in staff training interventions.
Attitudes to bereavement and intellectual disabilities in an Irish context
- Authors:
- DODD Philip, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 18(3), September 2005, pp.237-243.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study examines the experience of bereavement for people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland, and makes international comparisons. The mixed method study was carried out using two questionnaires. The first was used to study national service and organisational approaches to bereavement. The second questionnaire was used to study a staff group working in Ireland, assessing staff knowledge and understanding of the grieving process. The results were compared with a UK staff group who were assessed using the same questionnaire (Murray et al. 2000). Staff and service attitudes were found to be very positive in supporting people with intellectual disabilities who have been bereaved. There is considerable understanding of the needs of bereaved individuals, and there is a high level of support in the participation in grief rituals. When compared with a UK staff group, Irish staffs were more inclined to encourage individuals to take part in bereavement rituals, though they had less actual experience in supporting bereaved people. Only one service had written bereavement guidelines. The authors conclude there appears to be cultural differences in the experience of bereavement for people with intellectual disabilities. This is important in the context of staff training and policy development in grief and bereavement.
A qualitative evaluation of a healthy cookery course in Ireland designed for adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability
- Authors:
- BENNET Annemarie E, CUNNINGHAM Cara
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 18(3), 2014, pp.270-281.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Adults with an intellectual disability have poorer diets than the general adult population. The Able 2 Cook 4 Health cookery course aims to improve the diets of adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability. This study aims to evaluate the course by obtaining the views of course participants and the views of managers hosting the course. Thirty course participants took part in focus groups. Five managers hosting the course participated in a semi-structured interview. Positive features of the course included the group cooking, social interaction and course instructors. Collaboration between centres hosting the course and participants’ home environment is needed to help transfer the skills learned to all home settings. The Able 2 Cook 4 Health cookery course provided participants with an important social outlet to learn essential occupational skills. These findings could particularly influence the diets of adults with an intellectual disability moving into independent living. (Publisher abstract)
Psychotropic medications and adults with intellectual disabilities: care staff perspectives
- Author:
- LALOR John
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 7(6), 2013, pp.333-345.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Adults with intellectual disabilities are the most psychotropically medicated population of all. Non-medically trained care staff with whom these individuals spend the majority of their time are generally poorly trained in issues surrounding psychotropic medication. Much of the research related to the experiences of staff working in intellectual disability services has focused on medically trained professionals, and clients, and has been of a quantitative nature. Very little attention has been paid to care staff, their experiences, and through a qualitative approach. In this study semi-structured interviews were used to explore the experiences of, and impact on, care staff in relation to psychotropic medication usage in adults with intellectual disabilities living in long-term residential care. Eight full-time, experienced care staff from service in Dublin were interviewed and data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The paper demonstrates the concerns for staff, such as the negative impact upon client quality-of-life, the ethical implications of the medications’ regime, and the relationship perceived by care staff with the organisation management; and a significant lack of training. The limited field of previous research demographically comparable to the present paper was analysed for findings. (Edited publisher abstract)
Sexuality and personal relationships for people with an intellectual disability. Part II: staff and family carer perspectives
- Authors:
- EVANS D. S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(11), November 2009, pp.913-921.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
There appears to be little evidence that current service provision is matching recent ideological shifts that encourage appropriate sexual expression for people with an intellectual disability (ID). This second of a two part study used a questionnaire to assess the attitudes of staff and family carers. Case scenarios were presented to parents or siblings (n = 155) and staff carers (n = 153) of people with an ID in the west of Ireland; most were female. Staff carers tended to be more open to discussing sexuality and relationships with service users compared to family carers. They also suggested more environmental (e.g. insufficient training) than service-user characteristics (e.g. low cognitive ability) as impediments to these discussions. There were significant attitudinal differences between staff and family carers and between younger and older carers. Staff carers were more likely to support service-user engagement in intimate and non-intimate relationships whereas the majority of family carers (80%) showed a preference for low levels of intimacy. Overall the attitudes of staff carers more closely matched those promoted by ideological developments but differences in attitudes between carer groups could lead to inconsistent approaches to the management of sexuality. The authors conclude that there is continued need to provide staff and family carers with opportunities for dialogue and an ongoing need for training in the area of sexuality.
A model for training staff in positive behaviour support
- Author:
- DENCH Caroline
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 10(2), April 2005, pp.24-30.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Although front-line staff are the key agents in delivering positive behavioural competencies, their skills are not very well developed. This article describes a training model that demonstrates effective outcomes for service users, participating staff and the host organisations. Outlines critical elements of the training and describes the principle outcomes.