The Relationship between Staff Sickness Levels and Client Assault Levels in a Health Service Unit for People with an Intellectual Disability and Severely Challenging Behaviour

Abstract

The present study examined relationships between assault levels and sickness levels in staff working in a specialist challenging behaviour unit. The staff group experienced an average of 279.7 total assaults and an average of 422.5 hours sickness occurred each month. No significant relationships were found between total assaults and sickness levels, short-or long-term. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the available literature. Methodological difficulties are also discussed.

Violence in the care of adult persons with intellectual disabilities

“…Staff members accused of abusive behaviour at work by persons with intellectual disabilities are at risk of declined health, stress and may have symptoms of burnout (Mitchell & Hastings, 2001). Murray et al. (1999) found a relationship between staff members’ sickness levels and client assault in health service units for people with intellectual disabilities.…”

The Psychological Impact of Violence on Staff Working with Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

“…1997; Male & May 1997) and negative emotions (Bromley & Emerson 1995; Mitchell & Hastings 2001). This suggests that violent behaviour is a stressor; however, further research has questioned this relationship (Chung & Corbett 1998; Murray et al. 1999; Rose & Rose 2005).…”

Staff in services for people with intellectual disabilities: the impact of stress on attributions of challenging behaviour

“…1995a; Hatton et al. 1998; 1999), which can impact on the users of the service (Murray et al. 1999).…”

“…Although the above themes have been implicated in influencing staff stress levels and helping behaviour, the association between psychological well‐being of staff and the behaviour of people with an ID is at best weak (Jenkins et al. 1997) or has not been found in current research evidence (Murray et al. 1999).…”

“…Staff are an important asset and central to the provision of high-quality services to people with intellectual disabilities (IDs), but it has become clear that they can experience poor morale, high stress and burnout (Attwood & Joachim 1994 ;Hatton et al 1995 a;Hatton et al 1998 ;, which can impact on the users of the service (Murray et al 1999 ). Staff actions have also been shown to affect a client's challenging behaviour and vice versa (Hastings & Remington 1994 a;Hastings 2002 ), and may contribute to its development and maintenance (Hastings & Remington 1994 b;Hall et al 2001 ).…”