Abstract
BackgroundOrganizational culture in group homes for people with intellectual disabilities has been identified as influencing staff behaviour and residents’ quality of life (QOL). Despite this influence, culture has been under‐researched, with no published and validated instrument to measure its dimensions in group homes. The aim was to develop such a measure.MethodThe Group Home Culture Scale (GHCS) was developed using a theory‐driven approach. Items were generated from the research literature, which were reviewed by experts and tested in cognitive interviews. Data from 343 front‐line staff were used for exploratory factor analysis.ResultsThe content and face validity of the GHCS were found to be acceptable. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the GHCS measured seven dimensions of group home culture. Cronbach's alpha for the dimensions ranged from 0.81 to 0.92.ConclusionsThe GHCS has potential use in research to determine whether dimensions of group home culture predict the quality of staff support and residents’ QOL.
Highlights
Since the implementation of deinstitutionalization policy in Australia and other countries, such as England, Sweden and the United States, group homes have become a main form of supported accommodation for adults with intellectual disabilities (Larson, Ryan, Salmi, Smith, & Wuorio, 2012; Mansell, Beadle-Brown, & Special Interest Research Group, 2010; Tøssebro et al, 2012)
This study aimed to develop the type of instrument for measuring culture in group homes suggested by Bigby and colleagues (Bigby & Beadle-Brown, 2016; Bigby, Knox, et al, 2012)
This study has resulted in the development of an instrument to measure dimensions of organizational culture in group homes, named the Group Home Culture Scale (GHCS)
Summary
Since the implementation of deinstitutionalization policy in Australia and other countries, such as England, Sweden and the United States, group homes have become a main form of supported accommodation for adults with intellectual disabilities (Larson, Ryan, Salmi, Smith, & Wuorio, 2012; Mansell, Beadle-Brown, & Special Interest Research Group, 2010; Tøssebro et al, 2012). Schein’s (2010) definition of culture, Bigby and colleagues (Bigby & Beadle-Brown, 2016; Bigby, Knox, Beadle-Brown, & Clement, 2015; Bigby, Knox, Beadle-Brown, Clement, & Mansell, 2012) conducted two studies in five underperforming and three better performing group homes for people with severe intellectual disabilities They identified five dimensions of culture: (a) alignment of power holders’ values, (b) regard for residents, (c) perceived purpose, (d) working practices and (e) orientation to change and new ideas. Culture was defined using features described across the broad organizational culture literature, and those pertinent to group homes for people with intellectual disability, as staff members’ shared values, beliefs, norms and patterns of behaviour that influence how they think, feel and act (Ott, 1989; Trice & Beyer, 1993). The GHCS was designed as a self-report instrument to be completed by disability support workers (DSWs) and front-line supervisors, who are variously known as house supervisors, team leaders or service managers
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