Making sense of varying standards of care: front-line staff experiences of working in residential care environments for adults with learning disabilites

[摘要] Current evidence suggests that people with learning disabilities living in residential facilities are being exposed to considerable variation in the standards of care they receive. While attempts have been made to understand variations in care standards and factors associated with abusive or neglectful practices, there remains a need for more research in this area. Additionally, little attention has been paid to understanding support staff experiences of working in residential or inpatient services and to developing a more theoretical understanding of the role they fulfil. Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the aim of this study was to examine front-line staff members' experiences of working in residential care for people with learning disabilities. Six experienced front-line care workers (4 female, 2 male) took part in semi-structured interviews. Interview data was analysed according to the principles of IPA and the following three superordinate themes were identified as being central to participants' experiences of their work related roles: Degree of Positive Relationship Reciprocity; Value Congruence and Intrinsic Motivation; Experiences of Environmental and Organisational Constraints. Results are discussed in relation to existing literature on care standards and the factors associated with abusive or neglectful practices, and in terms of their contribution to theory and applied practice.

[发布机构] University:University of Birmingham;Department:School of Psychology

[关键词] B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion;BF Psychology