The role of support staff as people move from congregated settings to group homes and personalized arrangements in Ireland. (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: García Iriarte, Edurne; Stockdale, Janine; McConkey, Roy; Keogh, Fiona
• Editors: McConkey, Roy; Keogh, Fiona
• Is Part Of: Journal of intellectual disabilities. Volume 20:Number 2(2016:Jun.)
• Page Start: 152
• Page End: 164
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: support staff -- intellectual disability -- living arrangements -- relocation -- congregated settings -- group home -- personalized support -- nursing -- Ireland; Mental retardation -- Periodicals; People with mental disabilities -- Periodicals; Learning disabilities -- Periodicals; Handicap intellectuel; Trouble d'apprentissage; Handicapé mental; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 362.1968588
• DOI: 10.1177/1744629516633966
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-6295

Abstract

The movement of people with intellectual disabilities into the community is increasingly endorsed by public policy. Whilst staff are critical to a successful transition to the community, there is only scattered research on their role in supporting people to move. In this study, 32 staff and the 16 people with intellectual disabilities they supported to move from congregated settings to group homes or personalized living arrangements in the community were interviewed on two occasions, before (time 1) and after (time 2) the move. In congregated settings, staff steered the move to community living, they helped them to settle in community group homes and supported them to increase control over their lives in personalized community arrangements, where they support became increasingly more personalized and geared towards community participation and development of social relationships. Implications for staff training are drawn.