“What can we do?” Compassionate care and the potential role of clinical psychologists working within intellectual disability services post-Francis and Winterbourne
| Published date | 07 November 2016 |
| Pages | 324-332 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-09-2016-0027 |
| Date | 07 November 2016 |
| Author | Kieron Beard,Barbara Barter |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities |
“What can we do?”Compassionate care
and the potential role of clinical
psychologists working within intellectual
disability services post-Francis and
Winterbourne
Kieron Beard and Barbara Barter
Kieron Beard is a Senior Clinical
Psychologist at the Department
of Mental Health Learning
Disabilities, South London and
Maudsley NHS Foundation
Trust, London, UK.
Barbara Barter is a Clincial
Psychologist at Behavioural
and Developmental Psychiatry
CAG, South London and
Maudsley NHS Foundation
Trust, London, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of clinical psychologists in promoting
compassionate cultures within intellectual disability services.
Design/methodology/approach –This is a commentary paper which draws on Albee’s (1983, 2000) social
justice model as a theoretical framework for the primary prevention of the mental health consequences of
social injustice.
Findings –Albee’s model conceptualises three interconnected areas including; the individual or micro-level,
the organisational or meso-level and the level of social structures, policies and ideology or macro-level. Where
possible, specific examples were used to highlight how the authors are currently contributing to this
agenda through work that is already underway and areas for development within the service.
Originality/value –As a commentary paper this discusses current practice and ideas for future practice
but does not present original data.
Keywords Compassion, Intellectual disability, Learning disability, Clinical psychology, Commentary,
Mental health consequences of social injustice
Paper type Viewpoint
The National Health Service (NHS) has played host to three large-scale public scandals since
2006 each of which paint separately and cumulatively a worrying picture of what may have been
happening within the NHS in recent years. Evidence of declining quality of care at a
Mid-Staffordshire hospital can be traced back to 2006 and concerns regarding standards at the
hospital began to emerge in 2007. The resulting Francis Inquiry has led to much discussion
regarding the apparent lack of compassion currently within the NHS (www.midstaffspublicinquiry.
com/report). Furthermore, the horrific abuses uncovered by the BBC Panorama program at
WinterbourneView Hospital, first aired on 31 May 2011, providedthe public with heart-wrenching
evidence of not only a lack of compassion but also a dominant culture of cruelty and abuse
towards people with intellectual disabilities within one care setting.
There have been a number of national responses to the Francis report including the introduction
of a new chief inspector of hospitals, more external and internal regulation, new ways of
identifying underperforming trusts, changes to nursing training and the consideration of legal
Received 29 September 2016
Revised 29 September 2016
Accepted 20 October 2016
PAGE324
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ADVANCESIN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
j
VOL. 10 NO. 6 2016, pp.324-332, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 DOI 10.1108/AMHID-09-2016-0027
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