She has been granted a three year research grant by Forte (Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare) for the project "Adapting community support for people with intellectual disability and challenging behaviours: barriers and facilitators in developing high quality support for a vulnerable group."
The project will explore organisational barriers and facilitators according to the framework of “organisational readiness for change” (Weiner, 2009) as the Department for Disability Support (DDS) in the City of Malmö implements methods and structures to support persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) who present challenging behaviours.
People with ID are at higher risk than others to develop challenging behaviours, behaviours that due to intensity, frequency or duration jeopardise the physical safety of the person or others. A challenging behaviour frequently leads to serious limitations in access to community facilities (Emerson & Einfeld, 2011). Restrictive practices, including restraints and seclusion, are frequently used in services for people with ID, which has a negative impact on their quality of life (National Board of Health and Welfare, 2018). Such practices are used in lieu of a pedagogical support that identifies and prevents stressors.
Organisational factors impact service provision, knowledge dissemination and implementation (Björne et al., 2012; Nutley, Walter & Davies, 2007). The DDS has initiated a contextual change in the organisation, to adapt the organisation and better meet the needs of people with ID and challenging behaviours, and preventing the use of restrictive practices. This change will be guided by a strategic plan. Data sources will be staff reports on irregularities, surveys, interviews, and field notes from participant observation.
Identifying barriers and facilitators to change in the organisation, will enable efficient implementation of future strategic changes towards an evidence-based practice in the field of disability services, and lead to a sustainable organisation. The research will be pertinent for services such as group homes and daily activities centres for people with in ID, their relatives and other stakeholders, and for research on implementation and evidence- based practice in social work.