Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 6 of 6
Conundrums of supported living: the experiences of people with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, BOULD Emma, BEADLE-BROWN Julie
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 42(4), 2017, pp.309-319.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Dissatisfaction with the inflexibility of the group home model has led to the growth of supported living that separates housing from support and is thought to have greater potential for better quality of life outcomes. Comparative studies have had mixed findings with some showing few differences, other than greater choice in supported living. By investigating service user experiences of supported living this study aimed to identify how the potential of supported living might be better realised. Method: Thirty-four people with intellectual disability participated in 7 focus group interviews and 6 people in an individual interview. Data were analysed using grounded theory methods. Results: Although participants experienced greater choice and control over their everyday lives, they did not feel they controlled the way support was provided and experienced restrictions on lifestyle associated with low income. Despite their use of community places and varied social connections to family, friends, and acquaintances, most experienced loneliness. Conclusions: If the potential of supported living is to be realised, shortcomings of support arrangements must be addressed by, for example, greater consistency of support worker skills, consumer control over recruitment and rostering, and more skilled support to build friendships and manage difficult relationships. (Publisher abstract)
Evaluating service users’ experiences using Talking Mats®
- Authors:
- STEWART Kitty, BRADSHAW Jill, BEADLE-BROWN Julie
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 23(2), 2018, pp.78-86.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to establish the effectiveness of Talking Mats® (TM) in evaluating service users’ experiences, and explore their views of the implementation of person-centred active support (PCAS). Design/methodology/approach: This is a mixed-methods study, employing qualitative interviewing and observational measures. Findings: Both qualitative and quantitative measures indicated inconsistent implementation of PCAS. It was possible to effectively gain participants’ views on positive and negative aspects of quality of support and quality of life, using TM, across three themes, My life, My support and Self-determination. Research limitations/implications: Generalisability of the research may be limited due to the sample, and the potential for researcher and interviewer bias is acknowledged. Practical implications: TM provides a mechanism that may facilitate the inclusion of the views and experiences of people with intellectual and developmental disability (PWIDD) who have limited verbal skills. Their views need to be reflected in adaptions made to PCAS. Originality/value: This study included a population who are often left out of qualitative research because of the methodologies adopted. It also included older PWIDD, where there has been less research about the effectiveness of TM. (Edited publisher abstract)
Living in fear: better outcomes for people with learning disabilities and autism. Main research report
- Authors:
- BEADLE-BROWN Julie, et al
- Publisher:
- University of Kent. Tizard Centre
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 185
- Place of publication:
- Canterbury
Reports on the findings of a three-year research project to investigate incidents of disability hate crime experienced by people with autism and learning disabilities in Medway, Kent. The research was carried out by Autism London, MCCH, Kent Police and the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent. The study included a review of calls to the National Autistic Society and Autism London helplines; focus groups with people with learning disabilities and autism (n=31) and with family and paid carers (n=33); responses to a survey exploring the victimisation experiences of people with learning disabilities and autism (n=255); and in-depth interviews (n=27); and focus groups with the police to identify the difficulties they experience in responding to hate crime. Results found that at least one third of people involved in the research Medway had experienced some form of victimisation as adults. Types of hate crime varied and included physical attacks, threats, verbal abuse and damage to property. Key findings from focus groups with the police identified: lack of a clear definition of disability hate crime, a low level of individual police officers’ knowledge and experience of disability; and lack of a systematic method of establishing whether people reporting victimisation are vulnerable. The report calls for more specialist victim support, counselling and therapies for victims with autism and learning disabilities. It also identifies a need for better and more effective ways for victims to report incidents. Recommendations are made for National and Local implementation. The report also provides some examples of good practice in dealing with situations of victimisation or hate crime. (Edited publisher abstract)
Engagement of people with long-term conditions in health and social care research: barriers and facilitators to capturing the views of seldom-heard populations
- Authors:
- BEADLE-BROWN Julie, et al
- Publisher:
- Quality and Outcomes of Person-centred Care Policy Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 56
- Place of publication:
- Canterbury
Explores the recent literature on barriers and facilitators to including seldom heard groups as participants in research. Eighteen databases were identified for the final search, and 83 papers included in the review. These predominantly focused on four categories as being difficult to reach or engage in research: intellectual disability, older adults, in particular those with dementia, mental health conditions and minority ethnic groups. Almost half the papers reviewed focused on those with intellectual disabilities. A key barrier to inclusion was the assumptions made by various people (researchers, gatekeepers, ethics committees, funders and so on) involved at each stage of the research process, including research design, ethics and recruitment. The paper suggests that there has been limited progress in developing methods to systematically include these groups in recent years and that there is a need for more research exploring the use of alternative techniques for eliciting responses. (Edited publisher abstract)
Defining and measuring rapport: implications for supporting people with complex needs
- Authors:
- GUTHRIE Kamisha Sherene, BEADLE-BROWN Julie
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 11(3), July 2006, pp.21-30.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This research aimed to identify behavioural cues of rapport and warmth, in order to enable the construction of a valid measurement tool that would support existing methods of behavioural analysis. A number of general research questions were put to six focus groups. Participants were individuals with learning disabilities, professionals working for the NHS or a local authority, and support workers. Data obtained was qualitative in nature and was examined using content analysis and comparison between participants' experiences. Methods of interaction and communication with people who were either liked or disliked were generally similar across groups, although this varied by specific category. Behavioural cues of rapport were identified and categorised. Most of these would be of use in the creation of an assessment tool, although some adjustment is required so that they can be measured. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Too far to go: out-of-area placements of people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- BEADLE-BROWN Julie, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 11(1), February 2006, pp.24-34.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This mainly exploratory study was a one-point-in-time survey of the situation of one English county. The study involved a survey of all social care homes in the country, followed by measures of quality of life/service for a random sample of 30 people identified by the survey, interviews with home managers, service users, family carers and care managers, and focus groups with members of four community learning disability teams. The total number of people placed out-of-area was estimated to be close to 2,000 (1,500 were placed by the local authority within the country). The main reason for such placements was lack of good local services, but cost also seemed important. For many of those who had been in long-stay hospital, locality appeared not to be important. Effects varied, but at least a third of people were experiencing very poor service quality and quality of life. Family carers generally felt their relative was happy, but fear of loosing placement was a strong theme. For local community learning disability teams, the main problems included increased workload, reduced provision for local residents, difficulty in dealing with placing authority and the poor quality of the homes. Challenges for public agencies include provision of better local services, management of the cost incentives, especially for London Boroughs, and a system where funding follows the person wherever they chose to live.