Research project In group-homes for people with intellectual disabilities situations occasionally arise in which first-line managers perceive the rights of residents to be in conflict with the working conditions of employees. This project analyzes both the origins and the consequences of these seemingly competing interests. In close collaboration with two municipal disability support services revised ways of working to help manage and resolve such conflicts will be explored.
There is a knowledge gap regarding potentially conflicting legal and regulatory demands in Swedish group homes for people with intellectual disabilities. This is particularly evident when residents’ distressed behaviours challenge services, creating unsafe environments for residents and staff. The project will study the origin and impact of these seemingly competing interests through legislation, incident reports and interviews. In close collaboration with the disability support administrations of two municipalities, we will revise and test a way of working to resolve the perceived conflict.
There is a lack of knowledge about how the various laws and regulations concerning the quality of services and the requirements relating to the work environment correspond to one another, can be coordinated, or cannot be reconciled in group homes for people with intellectual disabilities. This becomes particularly evident when expressions of distress challenge the services and give rise to an environment that is unsafe for both residents and staff in the group home.
Staff working in these services are at risk of stress and exhaustion, which can contribute to staff turnover and organizational strain. Residents, in turn, may be subjected to restrictive or coercive measures. Managing conflicts of interest between legal requirements concerning service quality and those relating to the work environment is therefore crucial for developing group homes that promote the well-being of both staff and residents. The results of the project are also relevant to other services where the quality of support and staff safety are threatened by challenging behaviours among clients or patients.
The aim of the project is to analyse both the origins and effects of apparently conflicting interests. In close collaboration with two municipal administrations responsible for disability support services, we will investigate how revised ways of working can contribute to managing these conflicts.
In the project, we will collect national and local data on service quality and the work environment, including laws and regulations, local documents concerning procedures and routines, as well as reports on incidents and inspections. We will also interview managers at different levels. In close collaboration with the disability support administrations of two municipalities, a revised way of working will be developed to address perceived conflicts of interest. This approach will then be tested and evaluated.
