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Identifying the extent of challenging behaviour in adult learning disability services
- Authors:
- HAYDEN Carol, STEVENS Martin
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 34(6), September 2004, pp.811-829.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This article presents one part of the findings of an ongoing study that set out to investigate and explain the extent of challenging behaviour in twenty-one social service run day and residential services in one large county authority in England. This part of the study reports on staff perceptions of problematic behaviour from service users. It uses staff reports of levels of problematic behaviour as indicative of potentially challenging behaviour. The study uses an adapted version of an established instrument, the BPI (Behaviour Problems Inventory), as a survey tool completed by staff for all service users in a one-month period (January 2000). The findings of this exercise are based on 1,390 service users, near to a census at the time of the survey. The study shows ‘non-compliance’ to be the most problematic and prevalent behaviour from the point of view of staff. Overall the research illustrates a split between the majority of service users who present staff with problematic behaviour in a relatively minor to moderate way and a small group of individuals (less than 2 per cent) who present much more extreme behaviour. Brief reference is made to other data collected in the study when it helps in the interpretation of the behaviour patterns identified by the BPI.
Helping or hindering in adult safeguarding: an investigation of practice
- Authors:
- STEVENS Martin, MARTINEAU Stephen, NORRIE Caroline, MANTHORPE Jill
- Publisher:
- King's College London. Social Care Workforce Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 104
- Place of publication:
- London
Examines current safeguarding practice in England where access to an adult at risk is obstructed by a third party and explores views about whether social workers (and others) need more legal powers. This study focused on adults who are able to make decisions – people who have ‘mental capacity’ – as there are laws covering people who are not able to make decisions. The study found that while problems with getting to talk to adults who appeared to be at risk of harm were common, most are resolved by good social work practice, creativity and persistence. However, in a small number of cases, gaining any access proves very difficult and sometimes impossible. In these cases, legal intervention is sometimes required, but sometimes, no access is achieved. Most of the social workers and older and disabled people who were interviewed or surveyed thought that, on balance, there should be additional legal powers for social workers, including a power of entry. The study concluded that without greater knowledge about the size and nature of the problem – and therefore the costs to local authorities and the outcomes for those involved – policy options may be limited. One option proposed was to ask local authorities to count the number of cases of sustained obstruction. This would need to define terms like sustained obstruction or serious problems. Increasing the scope of current practice guidance, particularly in relation to multi-agency working, was another policy option outlined by the research. (Edited publisher abstract)