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Staff Communication With People With Intellectual Disabilities: The Impact Of A Work‐Based Training Programme
Author(s) -
Purcell Margaret,
McConkey Roy,
Morris Irene
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal of language and communication disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.101
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1460-6984
pISSN - 1368-2822
DOI - 10.1080/136828200247313
Subject(s) - psychology , front line , work (physics) , training (meteorology) , service (business) , medical education , scale (ratio) , applied psychology , nursing , medicine , mechanical engineering , physics , economy , quantum mechanics , meteorology , political science , law , economics , engineering
Previous studies have identified changes that front‐line service staff could usefully make to enhance their communications and those of their clients who have intellectual disabilities. These were incorporated into a training programme delivered in the workplace that involved a self‐selected group of 24 experienced staff working either in small‐scale residential settings and day centres. Analysis of video‐recordings made before and after training showed that although most clients had become more active communicators (particularly when they were engaged in shared activities with staff), significant changes in staff behaviours as a whole were not observed. However increased responsiveness from staff did correlate significantly with increases in the client's communication acts. In addition, qualitative reports from staff and tutors pinpointed specific changes that staff had made. The difficulties of evaluating changes in staff‐client communications are discussed and four features for training staff in communication are identified as essential; namely, it should be work‐based, client focused, mentor‐guided, and effective strategies documented and shared.