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“AN ORDINARY LIFE”: the early views and experiences of residential staff in the Wells Road Service
Author(s) -
Ward Linda
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of the british institute of mental handicap (apex)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 0261-9997
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3156.1989.tb00498.x
Subject(s) - formative assessment , psychology , coping (psychology) , service (business) , action (physics) , mental health , aggression , nursing , medical education , medicine , pedagogy , social psychology , business , psychiatry , marketing , physics , quantum mechanics
Residential staff working in the first two staffed homes of a local service for adults with mental handicaps were interviewed in‐depth at regular intervals over several years about their experiences, as part of a “formative evaluation” of the service overall. Certain key issues emerged, including: coping with some people's aggression and mental problems; difficulties with helping people learn new skills; the need for good staff support; and the importance of involving staff in reviewing service progress and plans. On the basis of this material, and more recent experience of this and similar services, the need for positive action (for example, the introduction of positive monitoring and quality action groups) to maintain and improve the quality of new community services is advocated.