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Consensus‐based good practice guidelines for clinical psychologists to support care staff in enabling sexual expression in people with intellectual disabilities—A Delphi study
Author(s) -
English Brad,
Tickle Anna,
Nair Roshan,
Moore Kate
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/jar.12671
Subject(s) - intellectual disability , delphi method , psychology , challenging behaviour , nursing , expression (computer science) , delphi , service (business) , learning disability , medical education , medicine , psychiatry , statistics , mathematics , economy , computer science , economics , programming language , operating system
Background Care staff supporting people with intellectual disabilities (PWID) report accepting views on PWID's sexual expression, but people with intellectual disabilities report their sexual expression is restricted by care staff. Methods We recruited a panel of 17 UK clinical psychologists experienced in helping care staff support PWID's sexual expression. We used the Delphi Method to develop consensus‐based practice guidelines for UK clinical psychologists supporting care staff in this way. Results Having proposed three guidelines each in Round One, panel members reached consensus (≥90% agreement) that 12 were important, falling under four themes: “Addressing staff attitudes,” “Addressing uncertainty about rights and responsibilities of people with intellectual disabilities,” “Locating the problem, being part of the solution,” and “Supporting care staff to understand and reflect upon their role.” Conclusions Clinical psychologists help care staff support PWID's sexual expression by normalizing care staff concerns, encouraging reflection, clarifying PWID's rights, and prompting those at managerial and service level to support care staff.