Staff In Residential Settings Research Articles

Staff’s self-reported frequency and management difficulty of challenging behaviour among persons with intellectual disabilities in connection with web-based training

Providing care and support to persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) requires in-depth knowledge about ID and challenging behaviour (CB) as well as communication and interaction. Knowledge deficiencies in these areas may prevent staff from understanding their clients and their behaviours, particularly those behaviours considered to be challenging. The aim of this study was to explore staff’s perceptions about CB among clients with ID in residential settings before and after a web-based training programme using the survey instrument ‘Checklist of Challenging Behaviour’ (CCB). The CRe-DEPTH guideline has served as a guide in this study. Upon completion of the training, staff perceived a reduced frequency of CB as well as reduced management difficulty of CB among clients. As such, training should routinely be offered to all staff in residential settings, but also healthcare professionals in general responsible for caring for clients exhibiting CB to ensure, improve and reinforce the quality of care and support provided to them.

Free advice for care staff in residential settings

Free advice for care staff in residential settings

182 Feasibility and Usability of a New National Transfer Document for Older Persons: A Pilot Study

Abstract Background There is an increasing number of older persons experiencing transfer episodes between residential and acute care facilities (Griffiths et al. 2014). Current transfer documentation is diverse; often only containing basic information and very little person centred patient information. The objective of this HSE National Clinical Programme for Older People funded study was to develop a national person centred transfer tool, for use during patient transfer between residential and acute services. Following an extensive literature review, focus group interviews with stakeholders and input from an expert panel, a pilot transfer document was developed. This paper reports on the pilot study of this document. Methods Researchers, in consultation with the expert panel, developed questionnaires. Questionnaires were quantitative, with three open-ended questions. Of the 28 residential settings and 3 acute settings that were contacted, 26 residential and 3 acute settings (93%) participated in the study. The pre-pilot questionnaire asked staff in residential settings their perceptions on current transfer documentation (n=875). The post-pilot questionnaire asked staff in residential and acute care settings their thoughts on the new transfer document which was used for the pilot (n=1085). Results Findings suggest that staff agree that the new transfer tool is person centred, contains relevant patient information and could help communication between healthcare professionals in these settings. Findings also indicate that the length of time to complete the document is of concern, particularly in an emergency and there were suggestions from staff in residential care services that some sections could be prepopulated. Conclusion In order to have a transfer document that is efficient, and person centred, there is a need for it to be available electronically and easy for staff to fully complete particularly in an emergency transfer.

Personality Correlates of Disciplinary Infractions in a Military-Style Residential Program for Adolescents

ABSTRACT This study examines personality correlates of disciplinary infractions in a sample of adolescents in a military-style residential program, an understudied but at-risk sample. Ninety-nine boys (Mage = 16.9 years) self-reported traits associated with externalizing psychopathology and problem behaviors. Additionally, each participant’s disciplinary record was obtained from the program. Disciplinary infractions were classified into five categories: physical aggression, verbal aggression toward peers, conflicts with staff, disruptive behavior, and rule-breaking. Principal component analysis indicated four distinct elements that underlie results on the self-report measures: (1) aggressive tendencies, (2) impulsivity and instability, (3) sensation seeking, and (4) narcissism. Subsequent regression analyses revealed differential associations between these components and counts of infractions across categories. These findings can inform research on the personality-based correlates of institutional misconduct, and they may also help staff in residential settings better manage or prevent some of the disciplinary problems they experience.

Does geriatric nursing staff burnout predict well-being of LTC residents?

Nursing staff in residential settings are exposed to a large number of stressors. This study examined the relationship between geriatric nursing staff (GNS) burnout and the well-being of residents in long-term care (LTC) facilities. Data were obtained concerning 590 older residents who were served by 315 GNS in 172 LTC facilities in Taiwan, using multilevel modeling. The depersonalization (DP) dimension of burnout in GNS was consistently related to various resident well-being outcomes. Higher DP among GNS was associated with lower residential satisfaction and perceived quality-of-life, as well as more depressive symptoms among older LTC residents. The findings support the claim that DP among GNS has a greater role in determining LTC resident well-being than other dimensions of burnout. Efforts should be made to mitigate the emergence of DP among GNS. Support and education are also needed to enable GNS to foster positive interactions and relationships with LTC residents.

Effectiveness of the \u2018Who\u2019s Challenging Who\u2019 support staff training intervention to improve attitudes and empathy towards adults with intellectual disability and challenging behaviours: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

BackgroundFindings suggest approximately one in six people with intellectual disability engage in ‘challenging behaviours’, which include aggression towards others/property and self-injurious actions. In residential settings, actions of staff members can make challenging behaviours more likely to occur, or make these behaviours worse. In particular, negative attitudes from members of staff and lack of understanding about the reasons for challenging behaviour are contributory factors. ‘Who’s Challenging Who?’ (WCW) training is designed to emphasise the role of staff in residential settings as a challenge also to people with intellectual disability. The course is delivered jointly by a trainer with intellectual disability who has been labelled as having challenging behaviour, along with a trainer without intellectual disability.MethodsThis is a cluster randomised two-arm trial of WCW training versus a waiting list control. Overall, 118 residential settings will be recruited and randomised on a 1:1 ratio. Within each setting, two members of staff will be invited to take part in the trial. Participants will complete assessments at baseline and at 6 and 20 weeks. WCW is a half day initial training course with some follow-on coaching to ensure implementation. The primary outcome is changes in staff empathy towards people with challenging behaviour. Secondary outcomes at the staff level include confidence, attitudes and work-related well-being. Secondary outcomes at the residential setting level include recorded incidents of aggressive challenging behaviour, and use of any restrictive practices.DiscussionIf the results of the cluster randomised trial are positive, we will disseminate the findings widely and make all training manuals and materials freely available for anyone in intellectual disability services (and beyond) to use. Our training approach may have wider implications in other areas of social care. It may also provide a generally applicable model for how to train people with intellectual disability to act as co-trainers in intellectual disability social care settings. People with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour have already been involved centrally with the design, development and pilot evaluation of WCW and will also be fully involved throughout this trial.Trial registrationRegistered on the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number registry on 8th December 2015: ISRCTN53763600.

Practice leadership and active support in residential services for people with intellectual disabilities: an exploratory study

We hypothesised that a key factor determining the quality of active support was 'practice leadership' - provided by the first-line manager to focus staff attention and develop staff skills in providing direct support to enable people with intellectual disabilities to have a good quality of life. This exploratory study focused on what levels of practice leadership were found and its role in explaining variation in active support. Relevant aspects of management, including practice leadership, were assessed by questionnaires administered to staff in residential settings alongside observational measures of active support and resident engagement in meaningful activity. Relationships between these variables were explored using regression and post hoc group comparisons. There was wide variation, with average levels of practice leadership being low, though improving over the period studied. Practice leadership had a significant impact on active support, but was fully mediated by the effect of quality of management. When the quality of management was higher better practice leadership did produce a significant difference in active support. However, higher quality of management on its own did not produce better active support. A number of limitations are acknowledged and further research is required. Practice leadership appears to be an important factor in enabling staff to provide active support but as part of generally good management. Given the rather low levels found, attention needs to be given to the training, career development and support of practice leaders and also to how to protect their time from their many other responsibilities.

Predictors of Job Satisfaction among Staff in Residential Settings for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities: A Comparison between Three Residential Models

Background This cross‐sectional study aims to assess whether there are differences in staff job satisfaction, including organizational and individual characteristics, between three residential models for adults with intellectual disabilities (small residential home, group home and institution) and to investigate the organizational and individual variables associated with staff job satisfaction.Methods A standardized self‐administered questionnaire (Job Satisfaction Survey) was distributed together with demographic questions between April 2007 and June 2007. In total, 1301 staff members completed the questionnaire.Results We found that staff working at small homes had a significantly higher level of job satisfaction than staff from the other two models. Logistic regression revealed that the characteristics of the organizations at which they were employed rather than the staff’s individual characteristics were strongly associated with job satisfaction.Conclusion This study suggests that the residential model and the provider sector of the residential setting are the factors of concern when ensuring staff job satisfaction.

The adolescent transsexual in a juvenile corrections institution: A case study

Adolescents with severe gender identity confusion present challenges and dilemmas for child care staff in residential settings. The administrative, legal, and day-to-day management issues presented by such adolescents are often formidable. This article provides case information and clinical impressions of one male to female adolescent transsexual who spent three years in a juvenile corrections institution.

Social skills training of Prader-Willi staff.

Over the past 30 years, research interest in PWS has focused on questions related to the identification of syndrome features, determination of etiology and incidence, and effectiveness of both medical and nutritional management strategies. Residential and day treatment facilities have emphasized control of food and of inappropriate behaviors. The present training program developed techniques and materials to encourage positive behaviors and minimize inappropriate behaviors, supplementing earlier techniques. Activities from social skills training curricula were adapted to the needs of PWS persons. Training sessions were held with staff in residential settings to field test the techniques. This paper summarizes the training program and describes effective techniques and materials.

A study of child care staff turnover

This study grew out of the concern for the high level of child care turnover existing in group care facilities. The results indicate that demographic variables are far superior in predicting turnover than organizational factors. The demographic variable most closely associated with turnover is found to be age. Controlling for tenure revealed that during the first two years of employment, a child care worker's rationale for leaving his job changes based on the number of months he has been employed. The study also revealed that previous studies pertaining to job satisfaction appear to apply only to child care staff in residential settings who are 26 years of age or older.