Supporting Engagement in Activity Kent Action Research Project
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing a tool that occupational therapists from a health and social care team can use to successfully embed changes in the practices of support workers of people with learning disabilities.
IRAS ID
268822
Contact name
David Haines
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Brighton
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
19-007P, Kent Community Health Foundation NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
To have good lives, people with severe and profound learning disabilities need support from people who understand them well, but they are not always supported in the best way. This reduces opportunities for full involvement, impacting on quality of life.
Occupational therapists often suggest things support workers could do differently, for example how they could support someone to be more involved in an activity. Support workers may, however, find it difficult make these changes. Working together seems important: the occupational therapist and support workers as partners in a team with the person being supported.
This study will use an action research process to develop a tool (perhaps a booklet, website, app, set of questions or training programme) to help occupational therapists think through and plan how to work with support workers when trying to change how they support people. This will develop support workers’ skills and job satisfaction and reduce unequal opportunities of people with learning disabilities. It will also mean social care funding being better spent.
To develop the tool, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants from the community learning disability teams in one county will take part in “action research” groups where they will share their experiences of working with support workers. They will be introduced to existing knowledge from research and will reflect on and discuss their practice. The content of the tool will come from analysing these discussions. Participants will consider, trial and give feedback on the tool as it develops.
This is the first phase of a four phase action research project. The tool will be developed with future phases of the research in mind (not part of this application) validating that it has the right content to do what it sets out to do, exploring its use in two services and measuring outcomes from its use.
REC name
N/A
REC reference
N/A