Improving Access to Psychological Therapies for people with intellectual disabilities – role of a reference group in achieving change
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-05-2017-0016 |
| Date | 05 September 2017 |
| Pages | 173-186 |
| Published date | 05 September 2017 |
| Author | Karen Dodd,Christine Burke,Alex Gibson,Emma Hines,Patrick Howarth,Jo Jennison,Reiko Mackintosh,Alisdair Radcliffe,Filipe Vieira,Gisela Unsworth |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities |
Improving Access to Psychological
Therapies for people with intellectual
disabilities –role of a reference group in
achieving change
Karen Dodd, Christine Burke, Alex Gibson, Emma Hines, Patrick Howarth, Jo Jennison,
Reiko Mackintosh, Alisdair Radcliffe, Filipe Vieira and Gisela Unsworth
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to explore the importance of equal access to Improving Access to
Psychological Therapies (IAPT) for people with intellectual disabilities.
Design/methodology/approach –The paper identifies barriers to access and shows how a reference
group can work to solve the barriers and increase access.
Findings –The paper evaluates the authors’progress to date and how the authors plan to continue to take
the work forward.
Practical implications –The paper highlights some of the factors responsible for the authors’success and
gives information that will be helpful to other areas who are interested in facilitating equal access.
Originality/value –The paper demonstrates how the focus of a reference group can drive improvements
across services to improve access for people with intellectual disabilities to IAPT services.
Keywords Intellectual disabilities, Learning disabilities, Joint working, IAPT, Reasonable adjustments,
Reference group
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme started in 2008 and has
transformed the treatment of adult anxiety disorders and depression in England (NHS England,
2016a, b). As stated by NHS England, IAPT services are characterised by three things:
1. Evidenced-based psychological therapies: with the therapy delivered by fully trained and
accredited practitioners, matched to the mental health problem and its intensity and duration
designed to optimise outcomes.
2. Routine outcome monitoring: so that the person having therapy and the clinician offering it
have up-to-date information on an individual’s progress. This supports the development of a
positive and shared approach to the goals of therapy and as this data is anonymised and
published this promotes transparency in service performance encouraging improvement.
3. Regular and outcomes-focussed supervision so practitioners are supported to continuously
improve and deliver high-quality care.
The initial guidance on IAPT –Commissioning for the Whole Community (IAPT, 2008) was
published alongside a number of short positive practice guides giving “top tips”
on commissioning IAPT services for specific communities (Dodd et al., 2011). The “Positive
Practice guide for people with learning disabilities”was published in January 2009 (IAPT, 2009)
Received 11 May 2017
Revised 30 June 2017
Accepted 28 July 2017
The authors affiliations can be
found at the end of this article.
DOI 10.1108/AMHID-05-2017-0016 VOL. 11 NO. 5/6 2017, pp.173-186, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282
j
ADVANCESIN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
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