The Social Care Occupational Therapy and Learning Disabilities Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Social Care Occupational Therapy: Communication, Collaboration and Outcomes when Working with Adults with Learning Disabilities and their Informal Carers
IRAS ID
316833
Contact name
Kathryn Almack
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hertfordshire
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
There is currently little information in the literature regarding how occupational therapists in social care work with adults with learning disabilities and their informal carers.
Made up of professionals and experts by experience, the research team identified the need to focus on to what extent social care occupational therapists support communication and collaboration as part of their work. The team also highlighted the need to explore the outcomes for adults with learning disabilities and informal carers as a result of the occupational therapy received.
To do this, the research team want to discuss and document the experiences of adults with learning disabilities, informal carers and social care occupational therapists. For adults with learning disabilities and informal carers, the method of discussion may vary depending on their preferred way of communicating. An interview topic guide has been created to guide these discussions in whichever form they take. Focus groups will be undertaken with social care occupational therapists in order to gather their views, using a separate topic guide.
It is hoped that this work will develop the evidence base for social care occupational therapy, and identify strengths and areas of improvement in working with adults with learning disabilities and informal carers, with the potential to positively impact current practice.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/WM/0109
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jul 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion