Evaluating neuropsychologically informed rehabilitation training for staff within a high secure intellectual disability service
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-08-2019-0016 |
| Date | 21 February 2020 |
| Pages | 61-73 |
| Published date | 21 February 2020 |
| Author | Phyllis Annesley,Zoe Hamilton,Roisin Galway,Samantha Akiens,Rachel Hicks,Martin Clarke |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities,Offending behaviour,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Deviant behaviour,Education,Special education/gifted education,Emotional/behavioural disorders |
Evaluating neuropsychologically informed
rehabilitation training for staff within a high
secure intellectual disability service
Phyllis Annesley, Zoe Hamilton, Roisin Galway, Samantha Akiens, Rachel Hicks and
Martin Clarke
Abstract
Purpose –Neuropsychologicallyinformed rehabilitation(NIR) is one approach to supporting people with
intellectual disabilities, cognitive impairment and challenging behaviour. This study aims to evaluate a
five-day training coursein NIR for staff working with adult male offenders with intellectualdisabilities in a
high secure hospital. The impacts on both the staff who undertook the training and the patients with
challengingbehaviour were explored.
Design/methodology/approach –Participants were psychology, nursing and day servicesstaff and male
patients. The staff completed a post-training questionnaireand three measures at pre-NIR training, post-NIR
training and one-year follow-up. Patients completed four questionnaire measures within the same periods.
Findings –NIR training was positively evaluated by staff. Staff members’ perceived efficacy in working with
challenging behaviour significantly increased post-training which was maintained at follow-up. Thematic
analysis showed that the training staff members built their confidence, knowledge and skills. Because of
these being high to start with, the study could not evidence statistically significant changes in these.
Thematic analysis yielded two main themes, namely, benefits and quality of training, each with their own
subthemes. The impacts of the training on patients were difficult to assess relatedto various factors.
Research limitations/implications –The knowledge and confidence measures used were limited in
scope withan experiencedstaff group and required development.
Practical implications –NIR training could assist staff in other secure and community settings in
workingwith people with intellectual disabilitiesand challenging behaviours.
Originality/value –This studypositively contributes to an area that requiresmore research.
Keywords Staff training, Intellectual disabilities, Neuropsychologically informed rehabilitation,
Cognitive rehabilitation, Challenging behaviour, Cognitive impairment
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
An estimated one in five adults with intellectual disabilities known to professional
services displays challenging behaviour (Hastings et al., 2018;Heyvaert et al., 2010;
Lloyd and Kennedy, 2014). Furthermore, greater severity of intellectual disabilities and
communication difficulties increases the risk for challenging behaviour (Bowring et al.,
2017a). Challenging behaviour is not in accordance with social norms and occurs at
such a frequency or intensity to cause a risk of harm to the individual and others and
can cause exclusion from ordinary community life (Emerson and Einfeld, 2011).
Challenging behaviour includes physical and verbal aggression, damaging property,
self-injury and inappropriate sexual behaviour (Flynn et al., 2019;Hastings et al.,2018).
The development of challenging behaviour is influenced by personal and environmental
factors which often interact with each other (Hastings et al.,2013;Heyvaert et al., 2010).
Phyllis Annesley is based at
the Department of Clinical
and Forensic Psychology,
Rampton Hospital, Retford,
UK. Zoe Hamilton is based
at the Department of
Clinical Psychology,
University of
Nottingham –Jubilee
Campus, Nottingham, UK.
Roisin Galway is based at
the Department of
Psychology, Bangor
University, Bangor, UK.
Samantha Akiens is based
at the Department of
Psychology, Arnold Lodge,
Leicester, UK. Rachel Hicks
is based at the Department
of Clinical and Forensic
Psychology, Rampton
Hospital, Retford, UK.
Martin Clarke is based at
the Department of
Research and Evidence,
Nottinghamshire
Healthcare NHS
Foundation Trust,
Nottingham, UK.
Received 6 August 2019
Revised 28 November 2019
Accepted 9 December 2019
The authors would like to
sincerely thank everyone who
generously participated in the
study. They are also very
appreciative of those who
enabled the training and the
study to take place.
DOI 10.1108/JIDOB-08-2019-0016 VOL. 11 NO. 2 2020, pp. 61-73, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8824 jJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR jPAGE 61
To continue reading
Request your trial