Staff ability to carry out behavioural strategies for individuals with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviours

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of studies that focused on variables likely to affect staff ability to carry out behavioural strategies for challenging behaviours in individuals with intellectual disabilities. Design/methodology/approach Literature review: studies that were published in a peer reviewed journal, between 1999 and 2016, were selected for this review. Findings In total, 29 articles were selected. Several factors likely affect staff ability to appropriately carry out behavioural interventions were identified: staff assumptions, distressing emotions elicited by challenging behaviours, reciprocal reinforcement systems, service characteristics and cultural systems. Originality/value These findings raise the question what staff need in order to be able to change their naturally occurring behaviours in response to challenging behaviours and to carry out behavioural interventions. Future research may identify barriers and facilitators underlying the provision of effective interventions, taking into account the possible role of staff beliefs, their emotions, service characteristics and cultural systems.

Effects of positive behaviour support delivered by direct staff on challenging behaviours and quality of life of adults with intellectual disabilities: A multicentre cluster‐controlled trial

“…Despite these advantages, PBS is often delivered by specialised teams or experts (Bowring et al, 2020; McGill et al, 2018). Several barriers may contribute to this practice: (1) many direct staff members experience difficulties in understanding ABA principles (Klaver et al, 2016); (2) the language and readability of PBS plans mostly do not fit the educational level of staff members (Wardale et al, 2018); (3) there is a lack of onsite supervision for direct staff members in applying PBS (Grey & McClean, 2007); (4) intervention manuals are often incomplete or missing (Hassiotis et al, 2018; Macdonald et al, 2018). In order to support and implement staff provided PBS, these factors need to be addressed.…”

The informal culture of a direct care staff team supporting people with intellectual disabilities who present with behaviours that challenge

“…Informal rather than formal culture may have the strongest influences, partly as direct supervision from management is relatively infrequent in comparison to the amount of time staff spend with one another (Hastings, 2005). Staff seem to have a preference for informal ways of working over formal guidelines (Klaver et al, 2016). Furthermore, the shared attitudes of the team have been shown to have a more powerful influence over staff behaviour than the attitudes of individuals (Knotter et al, 2013).…”