Individual and organisational factors associated with the use of seclusion in disability services

Abstract

Background Seclusion is a restrictive intervention that results in some form of containment and social isolation of a person from others. Little is known about the relationships between individual and organisation factors and the use of seclusion in disability services. Method The reported use of seclusion in disability services in Victoria, Australia, was examined over a 3-year period, with a focus on the characteristics of those who were secluded (n = 146) and the characteristics of organisations that reported seclusion compared to others who were reported to be restrained but not secluded (n = 2,482). Results Results from a logistic regression showed that the individual factors of age, the presence of autism and/or a psychiatric disorder put people at risk of being secluded. In terms of organisational factors, receiving accommodation services in institutions or in the community and the location of the organisation were risk factors. Conclusions The findings are consistent with previous research but add to this literature by showing that certain organisational characteristics are also risk factors for seclusion. Understanding these factors is important in order to help disability support staff find other more ethical and appropriate alternatives to seclusion.

Burnout and secondary traumatic stress in staff working with people with intellectual disabilities: The role of adverse childhood experiences, resilience and trauma‐informed organisational climate

“…Positive behavioural support (PBS) is recommended by NICE (2015) as a way to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities have the best quality of life possible, as underpinned by their human rights. Evidence suggests that the use of PBS can reduce the need for seclusion and restraint (Allen et al, 2005; Webber et al, 2012), of which can be experienced as traumatic by the person and their professional carers (Bonner et al, 2002; Sequeira & Halstead, 2002). Previous research into PBS training has demonstrated positive impact on knowledge, emotional responding and attributions of staff (Macdonald & McGill, 2013).…”