Child and family social workers’ experiences of working with parents with intellectual disabilities
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-03-2015-0013 |
| Published date | 02 November 2015 |
| Date | 02 November 2015 |
| Pages | 327-337 |
| Author | Claire Lewis,Biza Stenfert-Kroese,Alex O'Brien |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities |
Child and family social workers’
experiences of working with parents with
intellectual disabilities
Claire Lewis, Biza Stenfert-Kroese and Alex O’Brien
Claire Lewis is a Clinical
Psychologist at the University of
Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
and Biza Stenfert-Kroese is
based at the University of
Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Dr Alex O’Brien is based at
South Staffordshire and
Shropshire NHS Foundation
Trust, Stafford, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –While an increasing number of adults with an intellectual disability are having children, research
suggests that they face an increased risk of having their children removed. The purpose of this paper is to
explore child and family social workers’experiences of working with parents with intellectual disability, in order
to further our understanding of this issue.
Design/methodology/approach –Seven social workers were interviewed. Each had experience of working
on safeguarding cases where a parent had a diagnosis of intellectual disability. Data were analyzed using
Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.
Findings –Five super-ordinate themes were identified. These were: “feeling torn,”“experiencing a power
imbalance,”“hopelessness,”having “pride”in their work’and experiencing “barriers.”
Research limitations/implications –The results are discussed in the context of the increased risk that parents
with an intellectual disability face of having their children removed. Several areas for future research are identified.
Practical implications –The study highlights several areas for development regarding services for parents
with intellectual disability.
Originality/value –The study describes some of the difficulties experienced by social workers in this area
of their work, from their own perspective. It also strengthens existing ideas about improving services for
parents with intellectual disability.
Keywords Safeguarding, Parenting, Intellectual disability, Social work, Child and family, Experience
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
In the 1980s there was an initiative in the UK to move people with intellectual disabilities out of
long-stay hospitals and into community settings (Mackenzie-Davies and Mansell, 2007). Since
then, there has been increased recognition of the rights that people with intellectual disabilities have to
be an active part of their community. These changing attitudes were consolidated by UK Government
white papers entitled “Valuing people”and “Valuing people now”(Department of Health, 2001, 2009).
Amongst other things, these papers state that people with intellectual disabilities have the same
human rights as other citizens, including the right to have a family if they choose to.
Due to difficulties in collecting reliable data (Booth et al., 2005), the precise number of parents
with intellectual disabilities in the UK is unknown. However, in 2002, McConnell and Llewellyn
observed that this number was increasing. The National Survey of Adults with intellectual
disabilities in England between 2003 and 2004 found that one in 15 people with an intellectual
disabilities interviewed had a child. This suggests an estimate of more than 53,000 parents with
intellectual disabilities in England (Working Together with Parents Network, 2008).
Received 17 March 2015
Revised 14 July 2015
Accepted 2 September 2015
DOI 10.1108/AMHID-03-2015-0013 VOL. 9 NO. 6 2015, pp.327-337, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282
j
ADVANCESIN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
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PAGE327
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