Agnes Turnpenny

Developing an Easy Read Version of the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT)

BACKGROUND This study reports the experiences of developing and pre-testing an Easy Read version of the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) for self-report by people with intellectual disabilities. METHODS The study has combined survey development and pre-testing methods with approaches to create accessible information for people with intellectual disabilities. A working group assisted researchers in identifying appropriate question formats, pictures and wording. Focus groups and cognitive interviews were conducted to test various iterations of the instrument. RESULTS Substantial changes were made to the questionnaire, which included changes to illustrations, the wording of question stems and response options. CONCLUSIONS The process demonstrated the benefits of involving people with intellectual disabilities in the design and testing of data collection instruments. Adequately adapted questionnaires can be useful tools to collect information from people with intellectual disabilities in survey research; however, its limitations must be recognized.

Commentary on “Occupational identity of staff and attitudes towards institutional closure”

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reflect on Vesala et al.s (2014) findings on the occupational identity of staff and attitudes towards institutional closure. Design/methodology/approach – This commentary reviews some of the research around staffing, organisational hygiene and service management in countries that have already implemented deinstitutionalisation, and draws out some key considerations for countries and organisations that are planning the transition from institutions to community-based care. Findings – There is increasing evidence around approaches that are more likely to lead to positive service user and staff outcomes. Particularly person-centred active support and practice leadership have emerged as effective approaches in facilitating organisational change and high-quality services. Originality/value – Some of the experiences and practices in post-deinstitutionalisation countries around active support and practice leadership can provide valuable considerations for planning instit...

Commentary on “Changes in the provision of residential care for adult persons with an intellectual disability: a national longitudinal study”

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on the previous paper in this issue “Changes in the provision of residential care for adults with an intellectual disability: a national longitudinal study”.Design/methodology/approach – The commentary outlines some of the challenges and potential drivers of deinstitutionalisation and community living including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.Findings – The paper finds that the UN Convention and the practice of international organisations that fund investments in social care can potentially drive the replacement of institutions with community‐based services for people with intellectual disabilities.Originality/value – The argument for deinstitutionalisation and community living needs to be maintained more broadly rather than being focused on certain countries or regions. Community living for people with intellectual disabilities should be a global agenda with an emphasis on the human rights of people.