Brief training for care staff who work with people with an intellectual disability and challenging behaviour

Abstract

There is a paucity of research on brief training for care staff who work with people with an intellectual disability and challenging behaviour. The effects of an organisational culture on gains care staff make and retain when they attend training has also not been researched. A longitudinal design was used to assess a one-day training on staff attributions and attitudes. Questionnaires were administered across four time points (one week prior to training, immediately before and after training and at two months follow-up). Pre and post data was collected for 65 staff and four time point data for 37 staff. An organisational questionnaire was also administered to assess if changes in attributions and attitudes related to ratings of organisational culture. Significant changes in staff attitudes were recorded. This remained at two month follow-up. Staff attributions of controllability were also reduced following training. No associations were found between changes in attitude and attributions scores either immediately after training or at follow-up and ratings of organisational culture. Further research is required into staff training.