The Male Workforce in Intellectual Disability Services

Abstract

Staff shortages are predicted in community social care sector services for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). One option is to attract more men to the workforce, which would also counter the present sex‐ratio (gender) imbalance among workers. Potential strategies for recruitment could be identified by analyzing the characteristics and experiences of the male staff currently employed in such jobs. To do this, the authors undertook three studies: (1) a census of 653 staff in statutory services within one Health and Social Services Board district in Northern Ireland; (2) a survey of 463 staff from both statutory and nonstatutory services; and (3) small sample focus groups with designated male staff. Findings were that fewer than 1 in 5 of the workforce in ID sector services in Northern Ireland were men, with significant variance (0–40%) depending upon the type of services. Men were more likely than women to be in full‐time posts; to be the main wage‐earner in the household, and to have entered ID sector jobs from noncare settings. Male staff reported that their motivation for undertaking work in this sector was often questioned by peers and that they felt exposed to accusations of abuse. Authors conclude that male staff recruitment could be boosted by increased pay and more opportunities for full‐time work and career progression. Career advisers, teachers, and parents need to promote the value and opportunities of work available in ID sector services. The unique contributions of male staff also need to be identified and recognized as a means of retaining existing staff and recruiting others.

Penile hygiene: puberty, paraphimosis and personal care for men and boys with an intellectual disability

“…It offers a starting point to frame why more male care staff working in the sector should be a sector wide goal. There may well be a relationship between male staff and positive outcomes for male clients, a finding also reported by McConky et al (2007).…”

“…Based upon a combination of individual belief systems, duty of care and perceived professional boundaries, these are interdependent and deeply complex issues. The literature has acknowledged some of these gender-specific issues for support staff (Thompson et al 1997;McConky et al 2007); however, a wider appreciation of masculinity theory and its potential for understanding gender-relations and genderhierarchies is absent.…”

“…McCarthy & Thompson 1996). However, such arguments also need to be analysed and discussed within the context of female care staff greatly outnumbering male care staff, often by up to 95% (McConky et al. 2007).…”

“…However, the right to such sexual exploration has to be framed within the parameters of a risk assessment in relation to the vulnerability of both the male client and the staff member supporting him. With this in mind, male staff face particular issues which become heightened during the delivery of intimate care; McConky et al (2007) report how male care staff often felt 'at risk' because of the stereotypical assumption that being male makes you a potential abuser. Unfortunately, when abuse becomes the dominant theme of intimate care, there is perhaps a greater risk of neglect because delivering adequate penile hygiene is rendered a less important issue.…”

An exploration of the factors influencing career choice in mental health

“…Providing opportunities for direct contact with those being supported and the staff supporting them, such as service visits (McConkey, McAuley, Simpson, & Collins, 2007) and opportunities for placements/voluntary work/shadowing to potential employees (Owen & Standen, 2007; Sutten et al, 2015), have been identified in other caring contexts as important ways of recruiting staff with the right values, with realistic expectations, and who are committed to the area of work, as well as increasing opportunities to recruit from a more diverse workforce (Alink, Euser, Bakermans‐kranenburg, & van IJzendoorn, 2014; Werner, 2011). Our results indicate the importance of ensuring that those undertaking such opportunities are well‐supported and supervised.…”