TY - JOUR
T1 - Stakeholder perspectives on intensive support teams for adults with intellectual disabilities who display behaviour that challenges in England
AU - Kouroupa, Athanasia
AU - Hassiotis, Angela
AU - Hamza, Leila
AU - Courtenay, Ken
AU - Hall, Ian
AU - Langdon, Peter E.
AU - Taggart, Laurence
AU - Crossey, Vicky
AU - Lloyd-Evans, Brynmor
AU - Morant, Nicola
N1 - Funding Information:
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research (HS&DR) programme (NIHR Ref. No. 16/01/24). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2023/9
Y1 - 2023/9
N2 - Background: Adults with intellectual disabilities often display behaviour that challenges that is a result of biological differences, psychological challenges, and lack of appropriate social support. Intensive Support Teams (IST) are recommended to support the care needs of this group and avoid hospitalisation. However, little attention has been paid to the perspectives of stakeholders who manage, work in, or use ISTs. Method: Interviews and focus groups were conducted with 50 stakeholders (IST service managers and professionals, adults with intellectual disabilities, and family and paid carers) of ISTs. Services operated according to one of two service models previously identified in ISTs in England (enhanced or independent). Results: Thematic analysis identified accessible and flexible support, individualised care, and the involvement of carers and other relevant agencies in management plans and reviews as features of good IST care highlighted by all stakeholder groups. IST managers and professionals described the key challenges of current IST provision as unclear referral criteria, limited interfaces with other local services, and perceived threats associated with funding and staff retention. Findings were similar between the two IST models. Conclusions: ISTs are able to offer care and specialist support that is valued by families, service users and other care providers. However, they face several operational challenges that should be addressed if ISTs are to reach their potential along with community intellectual disability services in supporting adults with intellectual disabilities who display behaviour that challenges in the community.
AB - Background: Adults with intellectual disabilities often display behaviour that challenges that is a result of biological differences, psychological challenges, and lack of appropriate social support. Intensive Support Teams (IST) are recommended to support the care needs of this group and avoid hospitalisation. However, little attention has been paid to the perspectives of stakeholders who manage, work in, or use ISTs. Method: Interviews and focus groups were conducted with 50 stakeholders (IST service managers and professionals, adults with intellectual disabilities, and family and paid carers) of ISTs. Services operated according to one of two service models previously identified in ISTs in England (enhanced or independent). Results: Thematic analysis identified accessible and flexible support, individualised care, and the involvement of carers and other relevant agencies in management plans and reviews as features of good IST care highlighted by all stakeholder groups. IST managers and professionals described the key challenges of current IST provision as unclear referral criteria, limited interfaces with other local services, and perceived threats associated with funding and staff retention. Findings were similar between the two IST models. Conclusions: ISTs are able to offer care and specialist support that is valued by families, service users and other care providers. However, they face several operational challenges that should be addressed if ISTs are to reach their potential along with community intellectual disability services in supporting adults with intellectual disabilities who display behaviour that challenges in the community.
KW - challenging behaviour
KW - community care
KW - intellectual disabilities
KW - intensive support
KW - qualitative methods
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85161403507&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37271584
U2 - 10.1111/jar.13129
DO - 10.1111/jar.13129
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85161403507
SN - 1360-2322
VL - 36
SP - 1101
EP - 1112
JO - Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities
JF - Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities
IS - 5
ER -