This article hopes to offer some guidance regarding remote working with people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) during the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes offering individual therapy, managing risk, working indirectly and in consultative capacities.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Community Learning Disabilities Teams in Essex were suddenly required to work from home. A supportive space for colleagues to reflect and build on their strengths together was created through online Team Tree of Life Workshops, outlined here.

Purpose As Clinical Psychologists working in a tertiary Intellectual Disability (ID) service in the UK, this paper aims to address the impact of Covid-19 – and the subsequent transition out of Covid-19 restrictions – on individuals with an ID, and the clinicians working alongside them. Additionally, the paper reflects upon how Covid-19 has shaped and manipulated therapeutic communities and environments. Design/methodology/approach This paper is reflective in nature and reviews current evidence associated with how people with an ID experienced the impact of Covid-19. Clinicians reflect upon their shared experience in line with this evidence. Findings This paper highlights perpetuating inequalities and injustices on people with an ID as a result of Covid-19. Further, it is indicated that that there should be consideration of how people with an intellectual disability experience transitions back to their day-to-day environments and encourages clinicians to widely consider how to shape therapeutic communities and environments. Originality/value Multiple themes have been addressed in this paper, and the reflections add to an understanding of how those individuals specifically working in, or using intellectual disability services, have experienced the Covid-19 pandemic, though a critical lens.

No abstract