Exploring the knowledge base of trauma and trauma informed care of staff working in community residential accommodation for adults with an intellectual disability.
Paddy McNally, Mandy Irvine, Laurence Taggart and 2 others
PMID 35474388WHAT IT FOUND
Staff in residential services for adults with intellectual disabilities reported limited knowledge of formal trauma assessment tools and specific interventions.
While all groups recognised general trauma vulnerabilities, few could identify validated screening methods or link physical health impacts to trauma history.
Key findings
01Specialist practitioners showed limited awareness of formal assessment tools, and direct care staff and managers acknowledged no awareness at all.
02Only two staff members out of 32 described physical responses to upsetting experiences, and no participants linked trauma to long-term physical health conditions.
03All three staff groups reported a universally recognised need for training in trauma, with training needs mentioned across all interview categories.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (32 participants) and self-selected. Participants were recruited from a single geographical area (Northern Ireland) with specific cultural contexts regarding trauma. The study relied on staff self-report of knowledge rather than observation of practice. Direct care staff and managers had no specialist trauma training, which may have influenced their responses regarding formal tools.
Declared interests
The text does not report any conflicts of interest or funding sources.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the staff's self-reported lack of knowledge about formal assessment tools as evidence that such tools do not exist or are not available. The study reports what staff knew, not the actual availability of resources like the BLESID or LANTS scales, which the discussion notes were not being used.