It is increasingly being reported that people with an intellectual disability are significantly more likely to experience adverse life events, abuse and trauma in childhood compared with others in the general population (Dion

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the experiences of psychologists in considering the barriers to people with intellectual disabilities being able to access mainstream mental health services. Design/methodology/approach – The information relating to participant experiences was gathered by conducting two focus groups: one with psychologists working in the adult mental health service and the second with psychologists working in the learning disability service. A thematic analysis was used to determine the main themes from each of the focus groups. Findings – The overarching themes for the psychologists in the adult mental health service related to: service restrictions; confidence in their ability/skills; and resistance to change. The overarching themes for the psychologists in the learning disability service reflected: future thinking; protection; pessimism; and clarification around mental health and learning disability. Originality/value – The discussion includes consideration of the dynamic positions of the two services and recommendations for an integrated system of working.

Background Taking a trauma informed care approach has demonstrated positive outcomes for services for people in the general population. Given the increased vulnerability to psychological trauma for adults with an intellectual disability, this study explores what residential staff know about trauma and trauma informed care. Methods Thirty‐two staffs representing three staff groups: direct care staff; managers; and specialist practitioners, were interviewed using semi‐structured interviews, which were analysed following a structured framework. Findings Each staff group held different perspectives in their knowledge of trauma and trauma informed care. Limitations were noted in staffs' knowledge of trauma, implementation of evidence‐based supports, and access to specialist services for adults with an intellectual disability. All participants highlighted their training needs regarding trauma. Conclusion Increased training on recognising and responding to trauma is needed among community staff supporting those with a trauma history if organisations are to move towards trauma informed care.

Trauma informed care has become an evidenced based approach for inpatient and residential services for people in the general population who are likely to have been impacted by trauma. Given the increased vulnerability to psychological trauma for adults with an intellectual disability, it should follow that residential services for adults with an intellectual disability would also benefit from a trauma informed care approach. Two focus groups and individual interviews with seven adults with an intellectual disability and six workshops with seven service providers were conducted to co‐produce a trauma informed care framework for residential services that was evidence‐based and guided by established models (MRC, Developing and evaluating complex interventions, London: MRC & NIHR, 2019; Wight et al., Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 70, 520–525, 2016). The framework was developed into four chapters: ‘Setting the context’; ‘Organisational change’; ‘Workforce development’; and ‘Trauma focussed services’. A logic model outlining the mechanisms of change was refined over the course of the co‐production workshops. This is the first study to develop and co‐produce a trauma informed care framework for residential and supported living accommodation for adults with an intellectual disability. The framework has implications for local policy and practice in its current cultural context. Future development is required to operationalise and test the framework and to explore its adaptability to international contexts.