Managing Challenging Behaviour: The impact of Support workers understanding within a UK Charity

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My thanks go out to all who have helped me complete this study and with whom this project may have not been possible. In particular, my gratitude goes out to friends, facilitator and family for extensive and helpful comments on early drafts. I am also deeply indebted to the authors who have shared my interest and preceded me. Their works provided me with a host of information to learn from and build upon, also served as examples to emulate.

DECLARATION

I, [names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

1.1Background of the study1

1.2Overview2

1.3Problem Statement5

1.4 Aims of the study5

1.5 Objectives of the study5

1.6 Research questions6

1.7 Significance of the Study6

1.7 Rationale of the study7

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW12

1.1 Charity Organizations13

1.2 Success of Charity Organizations14

1.3 Support/Social Workers Understanding16

1.4 Learning Difficulties in Individuals17

1.5 Past Studies on Charity Organizations17

1.6 Size of Charity Organizations18

1.7 Challenging Behaviour19

1.8 Past Studies on Challenging Behaviour20

1.9 Barrier of Problematic Behaviour20

1.10 Behavioural Interventions22

1.11 Aggressive Behaviour22

1.12 Risk Management Strategies23

1.13 Systems Preventing Challenges23

1.14 Calming Techniques24

1.15 Medication24

1.16 Organizational Policy24

1.17 Physical Interventions25

1.18 Effect of Restraint on Outcomes25

1.19 Comprehensive Risk Assessment25

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY27

3.1 Introduction27

3.2 Research Philosophy29

3.3 Research design30

3.4 Research Approach30

3.5 Justification of Research Method31

3.6 Outline of the overall strategy31

3.7 Research Instrument32

3.8 Method of Analysis32

3.9 Data collection Techniques33

3.10 Reason for adopting Mixed Method33

3.11 Data Collection33

3.12 Data Collection Sources34

3.13 Underlying assumption35

3.14 Reliability/Dependability35

3.15 Validity35

3.16 Ethical Consideration36

REFERENCES37

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Allen and Tynan (2000) conducted a study to assess the effects of a training course for staff to increase their knowledge of aggressive behaviour and boost their confidence in managing them. They compared both trained and untrained workers who deal with challenging behaviours. It revealed that trained workers had more knowledge and confidence than untrained staff.

Lowe et al. (2007) in their study looked at the current prevalence rates of challenging behaviour among children, young people, and adults with learning difficult.

The rates reported indicated that in total 4.5 people per 10 000 population were rated as seriously challenging, representing 10% of the learning difficult population. Disruptive behaviour was the most common form of behaviour. The report also identified that there were significant number of other people reported as having challenging behaviours but at lower degrees of severity. The authors declare the requirement for improved understanding and skills with care workers.

Research into aggressive behaviours has recognised the problems associated with services that look into integrating people with this condition into community life. Care worker are face with major issues (Crocker et al., 2006) with the risk of placement them back into institutions (Allen, 1999). Researchers have used both the Staff Observation Aggression Scale Revised (SOAS-R) and the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) to describe the occurrence of verbal and physical aggression among people with learning difficulties (Almvik et al 2006, Voyer, ...