How do psychologists experience working with staff in residential care settings for people with an intellectual disability?

Abstract

Background

While psychologists working with people with an intellectual disability routinely work with care staff in residential care homes there is a lack of research investigating how psychologists can effectively assess, collaborate, and engage with staff groups.

Aims

This research seeks to explore psychologists’ experiences of working with staff in residential care homes in order to develop an understanding of how psychologists manage the work and to help generate clinical solutions to psychological problems.

Methods

Seven clinical psychologists and one counseling psychologist were interviewed using a semi-structured interview focusing on participants’ interactions with staff. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.

Findings

Themes common across participants included ‘development and maintenance of a therapeutic relationship,’ ‘theory and emotion,’ ‘perceived restrictions,’ ‘safety,’ ‘developing an identity as a psychologist,’ ‘support and shared experiences,’ ‘motivation,’ and ‘conflict and the roles of a psychologist.’

Conclusions

Participants experienced several barriers to carrying out effective psychological work with staff in residential care homes. The various ways they have sought to address these are discussed. A preliminary model is proposed to describe what is needed for psychologists to be effective when working with staff in residential care homes.

Keywords:

• Residential staff
• residential care
• psychologists
• consultancy
• qualitative research
• IPA